V 


NIAGARA 


A  POEM. 


BY 


REV.    C.    H.    A.    BULKLEY 


NEW-YORK : 

LEAVITT,  TROW  &  CO.,  191  BROADWAY. 

MDCCCXLVm. 


ENTERED,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1848,  by 

LEAVITT,  TROW  &  COMPANY, 
In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  for  the  Southern  District  of  New-York. 


.  v  :;•':  •,.• 


IS  GRATEFULLY  DEDICATED, 

BY  THE  AUTHOR, 

TO 

MRS.    HENRY    W.    TAYLOR, 

OB-  MARSHALL,    MICH., 

THE  DELIGHTS  OF  WHOSE  HOME, 

AND     WHOSE     KIND     INCENTIVES, 

OCCASIONED  ITS  PRODUCTION. 


M191799 


I 

JB 


TO    THE 


AMERICAN   PUBLIC 


THE  following  attempt  to  illustrate  one  of  Nature's  greatest 
wonders,  and  justly  the  pride  of  our  land,  is  here  laid  before  you. 
Its  composition,  during  a  season  of  partial  relaxation  from  the 
fatiguing  duties  of  a  profession,  than  which  none  other  is  more 
toilsome,  was  to  the  author  a  source  of  elevated  pleasure  and 
mental  benefit.  Without  claiming  to  have  answered  in  full  the 
demand  long  made  for  a  Poem  of  more  than  ordinary  length,  truly 
American  in  its  character,  he  presents  this  effort  with  the  humble 
desire  that  it  may  fill  that  void,  at  least  in  a  limited  degree.  Al- 
though it  should  not  accomplish  the  design  for  which  it  is  offered, 
it  may  perhaps  incite  some  more  gifted  and  adventurous  spirit  to 
essay  the  task  with  better  success.  This  Poem  had  never  been 
published  but  for  the  encouragements  of  those  in  whose  favorable 
judgment,  expressed  without  the  bias  of  personal  friendship,  con- 
fidence has  been  reposed,  as  being  that  of  men  already  eminent 
in  the  walks  of  literature.  Much  has  been  written  hitherto  upon 
Niagara  in  fugitive  verse,  but  no  attempt  like  this  has  been  made, 
to  present  its  united  wonders  as  the  theme  of  a  single  poem.  It 


VI  TO     THE     AMERICAN     PUBLIC. 

seems  a  bold  adventure,  and  one  too  hazardous,  because  of  the 
greatness  of  the  subject,  and  the  obscurity  of  the  bard ;  but  his 
countrymen  are  called  upon  to  judge  of  it  with  impartiality,  and 
pronounce  its  life  or  its  death.  The  author  would  not  shrink  from 
criticism,  but  rather  invites  and  is  ready  to  submit  to,  not  that 
which  is  venom-fanged'and  harsh,  but  just,  manly,  truthful,  and 
generous.  His  object  has  been  not  so  much  to  describe  at  length 
the  scenery  of  Niagara,  in  order  to  excite  emotions  in  the  reader 
similar  to  those  of  the  beholder,  for  this  would  be  a  vain  endeavor, 
as  to  give  a  transcript  of  what  passes  through  the  mind  of  one  who 
is  supposed  to  witness  so  grand  an  achievement  of  Nature.  The 
difficulty  with  those  who  visit  this  wondrous  Cataract,  is  to  give 
utterance  to  those  feelings  and  thoughts  that  crowd  within,  and 
often,  because  thus  pent  up,  produce  what  may  be  termed  the  pain 
of  delight.  If  a  responsive  affection  and  kindred  sympathy  can 
be  evoked  towards  him,  from  those  in  whose  hearts,  by  this  pro- 
duction, he  would  cherish  blest  sentiments  and  emotions,  that  now 
linger  there,  or  perhaps  have  ceased  to  echo,  nay,  that  never  before 
have  had  a  place  within,  it  is  all  the  meed  he  asks.  That  the 
God  of  Nature  and  of  Heaven  may  cause  this  work  to  honor  His 
name,  and  that  the  reader  may  turn  from  its  perusal  with  a  heart 
more  full  of  love  to  Him,  to  Nature,  and  to  Humanity,  is  the 
hope  of 

THE  AUTHOR. 
MOUNT  MORRIS,  N.  Y. 
April,  1848. 


ANALYSIS. 

Introductory  apostrophe — themes  proposed.  Apostrophe  to  the  Fall  as  a  vast 
form  of  life.  The  presence-chamber  of  God.  A  knight-errant.  Restless  spirits. 
The  streams — their  lament — its  uselessness.  The  Torrent  like  Time.  A  mourner 
over  men  and  nations.  The  Indian — his  chase — his  death-song — his  fall.  Apostrophe 
to  the  Cataract  as  a  Destroyer — an  Historian — a  warning  Prophet — an  oracle  of  Truth 
— a  Chronicler  undying — a  tireless  Laborer — and  unswayed  by  man.  The  islands — 
refuge-spots — so  are  some  hearts.  Winter — the  Fall  ice-imprisoned.  Spring — with  a 
song  of  Liberty.  Apostrophe  to  Niagara  River — passage  down  its  banks.  The  Cliffs 
—Death  of  Hungerford.  The  Cave  of  the  Winds.  The  Pinnacle-Rock.  The 
Whirlpool.  Apostrophe  to  the  Fall  respecting  its  origin  and  early  life.  The  Fall's 
Invocation  to  the  Creative  Spirit  for  the  Seasons.  Evening  and  Night.  The  Hermit 
of  the  Fall — his  birth-place  and  character — his  strain — his  melancholy  and  aspirations 
— his  strife,  disappointment,  doom,  fearful  deed,  remorse,  and  death.  The  Fall  a  wit- 
ness of  Redemption.  Sunrise — typical  of  Genius.  Hymn  of  Praise.  Noon.  The 
Flood's  Invocation.  Poet.  Musician.  The  Table-Rock.  Beneath  the  Sheet.  The 
Cataract's  hymn  to  the  Creator.  Proof  of  Deity.  The  Doom  of  Time,  with  the 
Flood's  death-dirge  and  fall.  The  Farewell  to  the  Cataract. 


NIAGARA.1 


"  Deep  calleth  unto  deep, 
At  the  noise  of  thy  water-spouts." 

Ps.  xlii.  7. 

ANCIENT  OF  FLOODS  !  twin-born  with  Time !  most  dread  ! 

In  spirit  overwhelmed  and  tremulous, 

In  hushed  amaze  and  wildering  reveries  lost, 

Here  do  I  bow  before  thine  august  front ! 

Thou  universal  type  of  human  thought ! 
All  things  of  earth  and  heaven,  of  man  and  God, 
By  thee  are  symbolized  and  throng  my  heart, 
In  images  begotten  by  thy  power ! 
Like  some  huge  form  of  life,  with  mind  endowed, 
Thou  liftest  up  thy  voice  in  high  discourse  ! 
Thou  art  the  strength  of  myriad  tides  compressed, 
The  spot  beneath  God's  throne  whereon  He  plants 
The  right  foot  of  His  power,  and  speaks  to  earth, 
The  messenger  and  guardian  of  his  realm, 
The  voice  of  streams,  of  Time,  of  Truth,  of  Love, 
Bewailing  joys  of  men  and  nations  lost ! 
2 


10  NIAGARA. 

Enthroned  'mid  refuge-isles,  unswayed  by  man, 

Alone  by  ice-chains  bound,  yet  quickly  loosed, 

Chanting  a  free  hymn  with  enfranchised  streams, 

Frowning  in  cliffs  and  caves  impregned  with  death, 

And  rushing  madly  to  the  whirlpool's  depths, 

Thou  hast  of  old  still  lived  and  summoned  life ! 

The  morn  and  eve,  the  noonday  and  the  night, 

Make  thee  their  shrine,  where  even  man  has  paid 

His  homage  and  revealed  his  secret  heart. 

A  witness  of  redeeming  love  art  thou, 

A  voice  at  sunrise,  to  the  gifted  soul 

Of  high  encouragement,  to  God  of  praise 

And  supplication,  and  to  earth  of  hope. 

What  poets  image  or  musicians  hymn, 

In  thine  own  page  and  notes  are  read  and  heard. 

Upon  thy  rock-built  steep  and  'neath  thy  tide, 

As  in  a  temple  find  we  proof  of  God ; 

And  when  man's  farewell  sounds,  thy  song  shall  be 

Time's  requiem  and  thine  own  farewell  to  life  ! 

Thus,  matchless  Fall !  with  life  so  multiform, 

Doth  my  initial  strain — the  vestibule 

Of  thought  upbuilded — open  to  the  view 

Of  hearts  now  ushered  in  thy  courts,  its  scenes, 

Foreshadowing  themes  th'  augmented  verse  unfolds. 

O  Shape  majestic !  whose  untrammelled  arms 
Are  ever  battling  foes  of  rocky  strength, 
With  what  untiring  and  victorious  tread, 


NI  AGA  RA  .  11 

Dost  thou  march  on  from  rugged  height  to  depth ! 
Thou  great  Behemoth !  sweltering  in  the  sun, 
Leaping  perpetual  down  the  dread  abyss, 
And  wrestling  frantic  with  the  rocks  below  ! 
I  see  thee  like  a  huge  leviathan, 
Swelling,  as  if  with  conscious  power,  thy  crest, 
Rolling  in  boiling  billows,  that  to  thee 
Are  but  the  infant  playthings  of  an  hour, 
And  spouting  all  along  the  maddened  deep, 
Ten  thousand  rivulets  of  spray  and  foam ! 
How  sullen  comes  thy  roar  to  earth's  pained  ear ! 
How  to  her  view  thy  misty  breathings  rise ! 


Thou  Crater  of  the  Lakes,  that  inland  spread, 
Seem  like  a  vast  volcano  torn  apart, 
By  thee  disgorging  all  its  fireless  streams ; 
How  oft  my  heart  has  beat  its  prison  ribs, 
With  strong  pulsations  to  behold  thy  front ! 
Ah  !  do  I  dream  of  thee  ?     No  !  there  thou  art, 
In  all  thy  native  grandeur  towering  still, 
With  all  thy  primal  vigor  pouring  out 
Thy  chainless  tide,  that  ever  loudly  boasts 
And  tosses  up,  in  pride,  its  head  of  spray, 
Scorning  decay  with  its  exhaustless  fonts, 
Like  some  rich  feudal  lord  among  his  serfs, 
Holdingt  neir  spirits  'neath  an  iron  rule, 
Yet  giving  them  his  treasured  largesses, 
With  liberal  hand  and  aspect  dominant. 


12  NIAGARA. 

0  Spirit  of  the  Flood  !  embodied  here, 
Concentering  all  thy  powers  in  one  vast  stride, 
And  brooding  o'er  the  surface  of  this  deep, 
As  on  the  waters  moved  th'  Invisible 

Of  old,  when  first  Creation  breathed  in  Time  ; 
With  soul  all  worshipful,  I  honor  thee  ! 
Above  thy  brow  or  on  the  rock  below, 
Or  in  thy  temple  underneath  thy  roof, 
Hid  by  thy  veil  I  stand  in  rapture  hushed ; 

1  catch  thy  spray,  I  see  thy  rainbow  smile, 
The  eddying  foam,  the  imprint  of  thy  feet — 

0  Vision  awful !  how  my  spirit  bows 

Here  at  thy  shrine,  as  at  th'  Almighty's  bar  ! 

How  like  the  Prophet  awed,  who  erst  beheld 

Jehovah's  lofty  throne  and  endless  train 

Filling  the  Temple  infinite,  and  saw 

The  seraphims  with  covered  face  and  feet, 

And  heard  them  cry — "  Thrice  holy  thou,  O  Lord !" 

1  prostrate  now  my  form,  and  in  thy  sight 
Exclaim — "  Unclean,  unclean,  O  man  undone  !"  2 
How  reverently  do  I  uncover  here, 

My  reeling  brow,  and  put  my  sandals  off, 

As  though  before  the  oracle  of  God, 

And  in  His  presence-chamber  now  I  stand  ! 

Dazzled  I  bend,  for  in  the  sunlight's  glare, 
Glancing  from  myriad  mirrors  on  thy  wall, 
I  view  th'  Eternal  o'er  His  mercy-seat, 
In  the  Shechinah  of  His  glory  robed ! 


NIAGARA.  13 

With  thoughts  unutterable,  yet  too  full 

To  live  within  my  narrow-circled  heart, 

I  view  thy  changeless  arch  reflecting  Heaven's ; 

I  hear  thine  anthem  pealing  out  to  earth, 

The  rich  concordance  of  unnumbered  streams  ! 

With  its  pent  breath  full  swells  my  aching  breast ! 

There !  forth  it  rushes  now  lest  these  weak  chords 

Should  break  in  agony  and  close  the  scene  ! 

Hear !  O  thou  mighty  Anakim  of  tides 

Among  the  liquid  nations !  hear  my  shout, 

E'en  though  its  sound  a  dying  tone  may  seem 

Amid  the  surge-like  echoes  of  thy  voice 

Booming  for  ever  o'er  the  deep  of  Time  ! 

All  hail !  immortal  Cataract,  all  hail ! 

Emblem  of  life  to  man,  thou  dost  uprise 

Before  his  view  to  bless  with  thoughts  of  love ! 

O  Teacher  of  his  soul !  still  thou  dost  speak 

With  heavenward  music  to  his  ear  of  hope ! 

Knight-errant  of  the  rivers  !  going  forth 

On  foaming  steed,  whose  nostrils  breathe  out  mist, 

To  single  combat  with  an  arm  unmatched, 

With  prowess  high  and  panoply  of  might ! 

How  vigorously,  yet  readily  dost  thou 

Wield  thy  strong  weapons  though  of  massive  weight ! 

Swift  rush  thy  spear-like  streams,  that  glance  in  light, 

With  quick  precision  to  the  channel's  heart ; 

With  what  a  demon-grasp  dost  thou  take  hold 

On  all  things  near  in  thy  o'ermastering  strength ! 


14  NIAGARA  . 

Below,  beneath  the  trampings  of  thy  feet, 

What  caverns  vast,  what  giant  rocks  oppose, 

And  me,et  thy  strokes  with  their  unflinching  breasts  ! 

How  strongly  trenched  in  earth's  firm  bulwark-heart, 

They  stand  unmoved !  What  deep  foundations  hold 

Their  structures  up  beneath  thy  ceaseless  blows ! 

Rising,  still  rising  with  the  flight  of  day, 

Thy  misty  stature  reaches  to  the  sky, 

The  Sun's  co-partner,  rival  of  the  cloud  ! 

Falling,  still  falling  with  decline  of  light, 

Thy  waters  hurl  them  o'er  the  frowning  cliff! 

Are  restless  spirits  brooding  underneath 

Thy  rough  hewn  footstool,  fierce  with  curbless  hate, 

Gathered  round  hell-like  fires  in  hope  t'  avenge 

Each  crushing  stroke  of  thy  tyrannic  heel  ? 

See !  from  those  heated  rocks  the  frightened  waves 

That  fell  so  cool  turn  round  in  boiling  pain, 

And  vapors,  as  if  hissing,  hot  arise ! 

In  thy  hoarse  strains  is  heard  the  desolate  wail 

Of  streams  unnumbered  wandering  far  away 

From  mountain  homes  where,  'neath  the  shady  rocks, 

Their  parent  springs  gave  them  a  peaceful  birth ; 

In  one  united  voice  their  grief  resounds, 

Mourning  the  loss  of  pensive  woods  and  vales, 

No  more  to  greet  their  musical  return  ; 

Downward,  clasped  tremblingly  in  wild  embrace, 

They  headlong  plunge  and  writhe  in  agony ; 

Upward  their  deep  groan  goes  to  hill  and  glen, 


NIAGARA  .  15 

Till,  mingled  in  despair,  seaward  they  roll, 
To  swell  the  caves  of  Ocean  never  full, 
Repeating  loudly  all  along  his  shore,  * 

In  the  sad  moanings  of  the  heaving  surf,       •• 
Like  this,  the  anguish  of  their  ebbing  life : 

"  O  wood-crowned  hills !  in  whose  cool  grottos  born, 

We  leaped  to  light  with  chimes  of  early  spring, 

And  down  your  deep  ravines  and  shady  sides, 

Flowed  with  the  music  of  the  youthful  heart ; 

We  long,  with  outstretched  arms  and  mournful  plaint 

To  mount  your  heights  again,  and  play  in  love 

With  the  green  children  of  the  forest  home ; 

To  start  in  silence  from  the  fissured  rock, 

And  roll  in  peace  along  your  verdant  cheeks ; 

Oh !  when,  ye  listening  hills,  shall  we  return, 

And  bubble  up  again  within  your  hearts  ? 

Ye  sun-clad  vales !  that  slept  in  light  unchecked, 

With  visions  beauteous  as  an  infant's  dream, 

How  joyously  along  thy  banks  we  played, 

Where  yellow  moccasins  and  the  wild  rose  grew, 

Like  maidens  dancing  in  the  spring-time  gay, 

With  tinkling  feet  upon  the  dewy  lawn. 

O  blessed  vales  !  shall  we  behold  again, 

Your  peaceful  images  and  quiet  slopes, 

The  guardian  tenants  of  your  pathless  home, 

Or  breathe  the  stillness  of  your  fragrant  air  ? 

Ah !  how  we  yearn  to  bend  our  footsteps  back, 

And  tread  your  devious  pathways  once  again  ! 


16  NIAGARA. 

How  fiercely,  yet  alas !  how  vainly  now, 

We  beat  against  the  stern  imprisoning  shore, 

That  stretches  out  its  everlasting  bar, 

Foe  to  return*,  defying  every  siege ! 

Ye  wandering  spirits  of  the  land-wind,  hear  I 

We  mourn  for  you  whom  oft  we  joyful  bore 

On  loving  bosoms  where  your  footsteps  played  ; 

Say,  never  more  shall  we  in  your  embrace 

Be  held,  nor  in  your  unseen  presence  sport  ? 

Come,  ye  blest  breathings  of  the  earth,  come  now, 

From  glen  and  grove,  and  waft  us  back  again 

To  those  sweet  play-grounds  of  our  infant  days. 

Ye  mountains !  looking  down  from  star-crowned  heights, 

Whose  guardian  summits  watched  us  in  our  mirth, 

As  parents  eye  the  life-springs  of  their  hearts; 

Was  it  not  joy  for  us  to  dwell  beneath 

Your  shadows,  resting  from  the  noon-day  heat  ? 

Aye  !  it  was  bliss  to  cool  our  sun-struck  tide 

Beneath  th'  umbrageous  shelter  of  your  woods ! 

To  you,  to  leaf-clad  hills,  to  shining  vales, 

Must  we  now  speak  that  bitter  word  "  Farewell  ?" 

Must  we  the  strife  of  fierce  leviathans 

Endure,  and  ever  bear  th3  oppressive  weight 

Of  laden  barks,  that  break  the  yielding  wave  ? 

Must  we  be  driven  and  scourged  like  heartless  slaves^ 

By  the  keen  lashes  of  the  tempest's  hand, 

Or  tremble  at  the  terror  of  his  frown  ? 

We  woul#  that  once  again  the  heated  lip 

Of  the  lone  hunter  or  the  hard-pressed  stag, 


NIAGARA.  17 

Of  school-boy  loosed  from  Wisdom's  serious  look, 
Or  herds  that  stood  midway  within  the  tide, 
Might  draw  refreshing  life  from  our  cool  fonts ; 
We  would  that  some  sweet  maiden  might  once  more, 
With  her  reflected  image  glassed  below, 
Smooth  her  dishevelled  locks  her  love  to  meet ; 
Oh !  that  again  we  might  in  rapture  hear 
Those  heart-warm  words  that  gushed  with  new-born  hopes, 
And  loving  promises  from  blended  hearts, 
Repeated  in  the  babblings  of  our  wave ; 
That  we  might  see  those  fond  embraces,  full 
Of  Life's  deep  rapture  unalloyed  and  bright ! 
We  miss  the  cottage  by  the  emerald  bank, 
Where  merry  voices  bubbled  with  our  springs, 
And  tones  of  prayer  were  heard  at  vesper-time. 
We  see  not  now  the  Poet  with  his  book, 
Wrapt  in  the  ecstasy  of  thought,  alone 
And  on  the  grassy  slope  reclined  at  length, 
Anon  beholding  Nature  and  his  page, 
To  form  anew  from  her  loved  images 
And  sentiments  of  other  hearts,  combined 
With  those  begotten  in  his  busy  soul, 
A  bright  creation  for  the  wondering  world. 
Ah !  not  the  least,  we  miss  the  errant  lad 
With  hook  and  line  of  rude  construction  formed, 
And  writhing  worm  to  lure  the  simple  trout ; 
And  the  light  skip  of  footless  keels  that  sped 
With  flying  sail  or  paddle  o'er  our  tide,  * 

By  mirthful  songs  or  measured  shouts  well-timed. 

2* 


18  NIAGARA. 

Whither,  ah !  whither  shall  we  look  to  find 
A  pathway  opened  for  our  backward  step  ? 
O  Sun  !  thou  only  helper  in  our  wo, 
Come  with  thy  beams  and  gently  draw  us  up ; 
Let  clouds  that  follow  in  thy  regal  train, 
Bend  at  thy  word  from  their  ethereal  flight, 

And  bear  us  in  their  bosoms  to  our  homes. 

•    ,    t 

Come,  ere  in  anguish,  as  we  beat  the  beach, 
To  drive  the  sand  or  break  the  heartless  rock, 
And  dig  our  pathway  back  again  to  joy, 
We  yield  to  Ocean's  power  our  ebbing  hearts, 
And  all  despairing  die  along  the  shore !" 

Alas !  how  vain  their  cry  !  'tis  like  the  prayer 

Of  disappointed  Age  that  asks  for  youth ! 

Of  souls  that  rushed  down  Life's  declivities, 

In  all  the  madness  of  their  heated  hopes ; 

Man's  heart-wrung  wishes  fall  back  on  our  ears, 

Like  the  deep  meanings  of  returnless  streams ! 

Yet  one  hope  lives,  a  Sun  above  us  shines, 

Whose  rays,  endowed  with  Love's  affinities, 

May  still  return  our  spirits,  when  exhaled 

From  earth,  to  Heaven's  immortal  youth  at  last. 

'Twere  useless  e'er  those  wishes  to  express, 

To  gratify  them  worse  than  useless  'tis ; 

Those  streams,  if  once  returned  to  primal  homes, 

Would  hurry  blindly  in  their  wayward  course, 

E'en  as  before  from  their  parental  springs, 

To  pass  o'er  rocks  and  through  deep  whirlpool  ways, 


N  I  AGAR A  .  19 

And  end  in  Ocean's  billows  evermore ; 

So  we,  if  youthful  years  were  e'er  restored, 

Or  homes  of  love  might  tenant  once  again, 

Should  heedless  pass  our  most  unvalued  hours, 

Should  leave  our  blessings  ever  unimproved, 

And  prodigally  wander  from  the  hearths 

Where  smiling  Peace  sits  aye  a  welcome  guest, 

And  Plenty  fills  us  with  her  bounteous  store, 

To  spend  our  patrimonial  share  of  joy, 

Of  time  and  thought  upon  a  heartless  world, 

Till  lost  in  dark  Eternity's  wide  sea ! 

O  Torrent !  art  thou  not  akin  to  Time, 
Or  rather  his  impersonated  form, 
That  flees  our  grasp  clothed  in  the  brightest  robes 
Of  love  and  hope  that  once  our  garments  were  ? 
How  deaf  to  every  voice  of  streams  art  thou, 
Made  thus  by  thine  own  ever-sounding  tongue  ! 
How  heedless  Time  to  every  plaint  of  man ! 
How  full  of  mockery  to  his  heart  of  grief! 
How  swift  his  current  bears  us  down,  to  roll 
In  the  deep  surgings  of  Life's  ocean-wave, 
Vainly  to  struggle  back  again  to  youth ! 
Over  his  rocks  and  down  his  deep  abyss, 
He  flings  the  dearest  treasures  of  our  hearts ; 
Alas !  how  bruised  and  shattered  on  they  sweep, 
In  his  swift  whirlpool  unrecovered  all ! 
;  Aye !  when  the  currents  of  his  years  rush  by, 
And  lay  their  fingers  on  our  hopeful  barks, 


20  NIAGARA. 

What  well-nerved  soul,  what  vigorous  arm  of  thought, 
What  oar  of  feeling  or  what  sail  of  joy, 
Can  help  us  stem  his  tide  or  shun  his  depths? 
Oh  !  they  must  shoot  unaided  o'er  his  verge, 
And  sink  for  aye  in  his  oblivious  flood ! 

Yes,  tearful  Mourner  I  thou  dost  often  sound 

The  funeral  wail  of  numbers  who  have  rushed 

In  dark  fatality  adown  thy  stream ! 

See  yonder  chieftain,  long  the  forest's  pride, 

Whose  bow  is  death,  whose  arrow  poison-fraught, 

Whose  arm  is  terror  and  whose  eye  is  light ; 

In  the  close  wigwam,  framed  of  birchen  bark, 

His  other  self  sings  to  their  hearts'  young  hope 

Of  his  return,  while  smiles  like  starlight  soft 

On  quiet  streams,  play  round  its  sleeping  lips, 

As  if  the  infant  dreamed  of  his  embrace ; 

While  sounds  of  steps,  like  pattering  rain  on  leaves, 

Fall  on  the  mother's  ear,  of  those  upborne 

Upon  her  breast  from  infancy,  now  blest 

With  youth's  green  hopes  and  fresh  life's  sunny  skies ; 

Voices,  like  plashings  from  some  home-bound  bark, 

Whose  swift  keel  cleaves  the  wave,  at  evening  heard, 

Echo  within  her  heart,  a  heart  that  leaps 

With  kindling  hope  at  every  heavy  step, 

That  she  may  rush  into  her  chieftain's  arms. 

But  ah !  lone  mother,  never  more  wilt  thou 

Feel  the  warm  pressure  of  that  bosom's  love, 

Nor  hold  thy  dear  ones  up  in  whom  to  show 


NIAGARA.  21 

His  image  pictured  and  thy  heart  within. 

Alas  !  fond  wife,  not  e'er  again  thou'lt  tell 

Of  all  the  hopes  and  fears  in  silent  hours, 

That  thronged  thy  bosom  for  thine  absent  love. 

Nor  wilt  thou  pillow  up  his  head  o'ercome 

With  keen  fatigue,  nor  gently  fan  his  sleep, 

Nor  crush  the  maize,  nor  bring  the  spring's  cool  draught, 

The  power  of  hunger  and  of  thirst  to  quell. 

Where  roams  that  chieftain  now,  O  loving  one  ? 

Through  deep  and  tangled  wild- woods,  far  away, 

Close  to  the  fall  of  light,  he  treads  the  leaves 

That  clothe  his  path  where  lies  the  wild  deer's  track. 

Ha !  there  his  quick  eye  meets  a  noble  stag ! 

His  arm  is  nerved,  his  hide-strung  bow  is  raised, 

His  arrow  pointed, — now  like  light  it  flies ! 

Deep  in  that  side  quivers  the  feathered  shaft, 

Reddened  all  o'er  with  jets  of  crimson  life. 

Away !  the  antlered  king  the  forest  flees, 

And  in  the  cooling  stream  a  refuge  seeks ; 

Quickly  the  hunter  speeds,  and  on  the  bank 

Finds  soon  a  light  canoe,  that  parts  the  tide 

As  the  swift  arrow  cuts  the  yielding  air ; 

Lightly  it  dances  like  a  gossamer 

Along  the  stream,  and  nears  the  panting  deer, 

That  sees  his  fate  at  hand,  and  turning,  sheds 

The  dying  tear,  then  breathes  his  life  away  ! 3 

But  ho !  what  paleness,  like  the  dawn's  dull  gray, 

Veils  now  that  face,  what  new  light  fires  that  eye, 

What  nerves  that  arm  to  ply  thus  swift  his  oar  ? 


22  NIAGARA. 

Ah !  in  the  eager  chase  he  heeded  not 

The  eddying  tide,  that  swept  yon  ledge  of  rocks ! 

And  now  within  its  grasp  his  frail  bark  moves 

On  to  thy  verge,  O  Cataract  of  wo ! 

Nobly  he  struggles,  but  alas,  in  vain, 

To  stem  the  fatal  current  and  escape ! 

Hark !  one  wild  shriek  shoots  through  the  frightened  air, 

Startling  the  nestled  birds  from  sunset  sleep, 

Waking  the  hills  to  give  back  their  response ! 

All,  all  is  o'er,  for  in  that  shriek  is  told 

That  life  is  hovering  o'er  th'  abyss  of  death ! 

He  drops  his  oar,  he  folds  his  weary  arms, 

And  in  his  bark  erect,  unmoved  and  calm, 

Awaits  his  doom  with  bold  heroic  heart ! 

He  hears  that  voice  terrific,  like  the  roar 

Of  hungry  wild  beasts  in  their  desert  lair, 

Prepared  to  plunge  upon  their  victims  nigh ! 

He  sees  yon  spot  where  angry  billows  fight 

In  rival  power  t'  embrace  the  glassy  tide. 

Few  moments  now  remain,  and  like  the  swan 

That  sings  at  death  its  ebbing  life  away, 

He  swells  the  hymn  of  Nature,  now  so  sad, 

With  the  calm  music  of  his  heart's  death-song : 

"  Farewell !  ye  loved  ones,  that  to  this  strong  heart 

Were  like  its  acorns  to  th'  unblighted  oak ; 

Soon,  soon  all  riven  by  the  lightning  play 

Of  these  resistless  tides,  my  frame  shall  fall, 

And  with  their  thunder  voice  my  death-groans  blend ! 


NIAGARA.  23 

Oh  !  in  this  land  whereon  the  sunlight  gleams, 

No  more  your  eyes  shall  join  with  mine  their  rays, 

But  in  the  land  where  spirits  are  all  light, 

Shall  life  renewed  bring  pleasures  unalloyed, 

At  whose  deep  fountain  all  of  us  may  drink. 

Farewell !  thou  heart  that  blent  its  hopes  with  mine, 

Like  day-beams  glistening  in  the  depth  of  tides, 

The  riving  storm  rends  now  this  towering  trunk, 

And  casts  it  splintered  on  the  sharpened  rock, 

While  thou,  O  loved  one,  with  thine  arms  untwined, 

Must  fall  to  earth  in  unsupported  grief. 

Farewell !  in  yonder  clime  where  pain  lives  not, 

Nor  fatal  cataracts  leap  down  with  death, 

I  wait  for  thee  till  thou  shalt  end  Life's  chase ! 

Farewell  my  wigwam !  I  no  more  shall  see 

Thy  fire-light  gleaming  at  the  evening's  close ! 

Farewell  my  warrior  band  !  whose  stalwart  arms 

Have  won  with  me  the  conquest  of  our  foes ; 

By  council-fires  we  never  more  shall  meet, 

And  talk  of  battles  to  be  fought  and  won ; 

No  more  on  fields  of  carnage  shall  we  brave 

Stern  visages  of  men  that  love  war's  din. 

Yet,  brothers,  shall  we  gather  in  the  halls 

Of  that  Great  Spirit  whom  we  all  adore, 

And  join  the  councils  of  departed  braves. 

Farewell  ye  streams !  whose  arrowy  currents  bore 

My  swift  canoe  on  like  a  bird  of  light, 

Safe  to  my  home  where  hope  embosomed  smiled ; 

Your  tides  here  mingled  bear  me  far  away 


424  NIAGARA. 

To  the  dim  regions  of  the  Future's  life  ! 

Farewell  ye  hills !  ye  mountains  !  woods  and  vales ! 

Where  sire  and  son  have  found  their  hunting  grounds, 

Your  swift-heeled  stags  no  more  may  fear  my  bow, 

But  browse  your  verdure  in  disturbless  peace  ; 

To  yonder  fields  where  spirit-forms,  abide, 

I  hasten  now,  for  ever  there  to  dwell ! 

My  death-song  ends — farewell  to  all  of  earth !" 

He  nears  the  verge !  the  rolling  torrent  lifts 
His  little  bark  as  'twere  a  thing  of  air,. 
To  which  with  death-like  grasp  he  strongly  clings ! 
Poised  on  the  edge  of  that  high  precipice, 
He  seems  an  instant  to  be  hung,  then  falls ! 
Falls  from  that  dizzy  height  and  is  no  more, 
Closed  in  the  embracings  of  the  white  foam's  tomb, 
Lost  to  the  loves  and  hates  of  earth  for  aye ! 

So  died  the  stag  and  so  the  hunter  died, 
So  fall  the  conquered  and  the  conqueror ! 

O  dread  Destroyer !  potent  avalanche 

Of  waters !  who  can  rise  from  underneath 

Thy  whelming  mass  uncrushed  ?     Say,  who  can  brave 

The  awful  terror  of  thy  conquering  arm  ? 

As  from  an  Alpine  summit  thou  dost  launch 

Thy  snow-white  torrents  on  the  abyss  below ; 

If  found  within  thy  swift  unerring  course, 

'Twere  vain  to  flee,  to  stay  is  death  indeed ! 


NIAGARA.  25 

How  much  like  Life's  usurper  thou  dost  come, 

With  unresisted  might  and  tearless  eye, 

To  hurl  the  blest  inheritor  of  earth 

Down  from  the  pedestal  where  erst  enthroned, 

He  sat  a  sovereign  in  love's  happy  realm ; 

Aye  !  how  imperative  Death's  voice,  like  thine, 

Resounds  to  fill  all  hearts  with  fear  and  wo ! 

How  vainly  to  our  loved  ones  do  we  cling, 

Who,  powerless,  ne'er  escape  his  grasp  that  tears 

Their  hearts  from  ours,  which — like  the  restless  threads 

Of  some  lone  spider's  web  torn  from  its  place, 

That  swingeth  in  the  breeze,  and  drips  with  dew, — 

Seem  parted  shreds  that  drop  with  Love's  own  blood. 

Ah  !  we  may  hope  to  gain  th'  unbroken  form 

Of  him  who  hurries  down  thy  shivering  steep, 

As  to  recover  from  Death's  crushing  touch, 

The  loved  who  were  of  our  own  life  a  part, 

When  his  resolve  is  fixed  to  make  them  his  ! 

Alas !  that  earth  has  not  the  power  to  keep 

All  things  as  hers  that  from  her  bosom  come  ! 

Oft  with  thy  voice  dost  thou,  Historian  rare ! 
Declare  the  fate  of  nations  that  were  throned 
In  might  and  splendor  like  the  stars  of  night, 
O'er  earth's  vast  acres  holding  their  control, 
But  now  'whelmed  'neath  the  cataract  of  Time, 
And  mouldered  into  human  nothingness, 
Their  rest  the  memory,  and  their  tomb  the  Past ! 
When  shook  by  fierce  convulsions  low  they  fell, 


26  NIAGARA. 

And  sent  their  death-wail  like  an  earthquake  voice, 

Over  the  posting  waves  that  foamed  in  haste, 

To  bear  the  sad  intelligence  afar, 

How  sadly  rolled  thy  hymn  funereal  on, 

To  meet  the  sighings  of  the  sorrowing  sea. 

Say,  has  not  oft  the  artisan  of  clouds, 

Who  in  thy  busy  waters  layeth  deep 

The  beams  of  his  bright  chambers,  and  enrobes 

Thy  form  in  the  gay  garments  of  his  light, 

Has  he  not  oft  caught  up  the  heartful  tears 

Of  far-off  multitudes  that  mourned  the  death 

Of  all  their  country's  hopes,  and  with  them  swelled 

Thy  streams,  filled  with  the  sighs  and  groans  that  tell 

A  nation's  change  from  splendor  to  decay  ? 

Methinks  that  often  thou  hast  lifted  up 

Thy  solemn  voice  and  wept  a  people's  loss, 

And  sounded  an  alarum-note  for  all 

Whom  coming  Time  should  bring  to  tenant  earth. 

Prophet  of  Truth  !  thus  is  thy  warning  voice 

Heard  o'er  the  ruins  of  departed  years : 

"  Wo  to  the  nations  that  in  pride  have  towered 
Above  the  majesty  of  Heaven,  and  scorned 
Obedience  to  its  just  decrees,  or  throned 
Amid  their  temples  and  within  their  hearts, 
The  earth-born  deities  of  idol  form ! 
Changing,  as  fools,  the  glory  of  their  God, 
The  Incorruptible,  to  images 
Made  like  to  man  corruptible,  to  birds, 


NIAGARA.  27 

To  beasts  four-footed,  and  to  reptile  things ; 

Discerning  not  from  earth's  created  forms, 

His  attributes  invisible  that  tell 

His  power  eternal  and  his  Godhead  bright ! 4 

Wo  to  the  lands  that  in  the  tide  of  sin 

Have  bathed  their  bosoms  with  its  poison-drops, 

Whose  arms  have  stretched  from  shore  to  shore  afar, 

Reddening  the  waters  that  repose  between, 

With  the  fresh  heart-streams  of  the  earthly  life. 

Where  are  the  throngs  that  trod  the  weary  soil 

Ere  swept  the  deluge-torrents  o'er  their  home  ? 

Where  are  the  thousands  whom  the  fire-bolts  hurled 

Down  'neath  the  soundings  of  the  Dead  Sea's  wave  ? 

Where  now  is  Persia's  pride,  her  Orient  thrones, 

Assyria's  glories,  like  resplendent  suns, 

Egyptia's  wisdom,  Rome's  great  battle-arm, 

The  halls  of  Greece,  Philosophy's  loved  shades, 

The  walls  of  Carthage,  or  the  hundred  gates 

Of  ancient  Thebes,  the  chivalry  of  Spain, 

Italia's  beauty,  Palestina's  joy  ? 

Where  are  they  now  ?     The  deluge-waves  of  wo 

Have  rolled  their  ruin  o'er  them  all  for  aye ! 

Their  shivered  columns  lie  the  prey  of  Time, 

Like  lifeless  skeletons,  whose  scattered  bones 

His  ravenous  tooth  has  gnawed  and  left  to  rot ! 

Where  are  the  cities  gemming  earth's  wide  brow, 

That  formed  her  diadem  of  clustering  light, 

And  stood  along  her  desert  intervals, 

Like  inland  islands  full  of  wealth  and  power  ? 


28  NIAGARA. 

Some,  doomed  to  silence  in  their  lava-tombs, 

Sleep  all  unconscious  of  the  tread  of  Time, 

Or  helpless  yield  to  antiquarian  hands, 

That  ope  their  graves  and  rifle  all  their  stores. 

Others,  like  forms  upon  the  sea-shore  sands, 

Shipwrecked  and  shattered  crumble  to  decay ; 

Their  streets  resound  with  desolation's  cry, 

The  bittern's  piercing  shriek,  the  owl's  hoarse  croak, 

Or  swarm  with  drones  that  mock  the  silent  shades 

Of  their  paternal  heroes,  dead  to  all 

That  elevates  and  blesses  man  below  ! 

Wail !  for  the  desolated  homes,  of  old 

Resounding  with  the  melody  of  the  heart, 

Now  echo  songless,  or  are  harps  for  winds, 

That  make  sad  music  with  their  minor  chords ! 

Wail  for  deserted  shrines,  where  Genius  knelt, 

And  in  its  worship  won  the  awe  of  souls ! 

Wail  for  the  lost,  and  bid  the  living  list, 

'  Cursed  the  nation  that  forgets  its  God  !' ' 

O  Oracle  of  Truth  !  no  Delphos  gave 
Such  true  responses  as  thy  waters  sound ! 
From  thee  we  learn  that  man's  creations  die, 
While  Nature  still  survives  his  hopeless  wrecks, 
To  teach  the  world  her  Architect's  great  will ! 

Thou  reverend  Chronicler !  on  thy  full  page, 
What  memories  of  by-gone  years  we  read, 
That  throng  our  hearts  as  rush  thy  waters  down  ! 


NIAGARA.  29 

Yes !  now  we  hear  thy  watery  lips  declare 

That  when  the  voices  of  a  nation's  birth 

Went  up  from  earth  to  heaven  in  triumph  glad, 

With  the  heart-swelling  song  of  Liberty, 

Thy  shout  arose  in  deep-toned  concert  joined ! 

Methinks  thy  clamorous  waves  with  joyful  swell, 

A  thousand  fold  increased,  and  beat  aloud 

A  new  reveille  for  the  nations  round  ; 

Till  the  old  dynasties  of  tyrant  Time, 

Felt  the  earth  quiver  and  her  kingdoms  reel ! 

And  then  methinks  in  rapture  thou  didst  stretch 

Another  bow  of  richer  hue  above 

Thy  glittering  front,  and  wide  unfurled  for  earth, 

A  new-named  banner  to  the  eye  of  man, 

With  Freedom's  stars  reflected  from  its  folds, 

Radiant  as  Heaven's  high  monuments  of  light ! 

Didst  thou  not  then  announce  to  other  worlds, 

The  blessed  news  winged  by  the  feathery  mist, 

And  with  its  arrowy  fleetness  mounting  up, 

That  man  had  fled  the  castle  of  the  king, 

To  roam  unchecked  in  Freedom's  fenceless  fields  ? 

Ah !  when  the  deep  voice  of  the  heart  o'erfull 

Of  love  for  life  and  liberty  was  heard  ; 

When  boomed  the  thunder-gun  along  thy  banks, 

And  brave  souls  driven  fiercely  out  of  earth, 

By  bursting  bombs  and  rattling  iron  balls, 

Left  heje  their  shattered  tenements  to  rot, 

Didst  thou  not  tremble  lest  the  chain  might  be 

Still  heavier  forged,  and  crush  the  hopeful  heart  ? 


30  NIAGARA. 

They  tell  us,  O  devouring  Cataract ! 

That  in  approaching  time  the  earth-bound  lakes, 

Which  moisten  now  thine  ever-thirsty  lips, 

Shall  break  their  strong  enthralments  and  o'erflow 

The  peopled  fields  with  deluges  of  death ; 

That  thou  with  backward  step  or  fallen  crest, 

Shalt  riot  o'er  the  home-clad  vales  in  wrath, 

And  sweep  disaster  through  the  ranks  of  life ;  5 

But  never,  O  great  Waterfall !  let  man 

Bewail  the  abdication  of  thy  seat, 

Or  his  own  loss,  before  thy  ravages ! 

Never !  we  will  not  lend  our  ear  to  words 

That  tell  of  thy  decay  or  change  amid 

Time's  victories  and  earth's  vicissitudes ! 

No,  never !  such  catastrophe  shall  ne'er 

Dismay  our  hearts  or  desolate  our  homes ! 

Hath  not  th'  Almighty  traced  upon  thy  brow, 

In  rainbow-letters,  with  His  artist-hand, 

The  hopeful  promise  that  our  trembling  earth 

No  more  shall  swallow  death  in  deluge-tides  ? 

Aye  !  thou  shalt  pour  with  lavish  hand  thy  streams, 

Ever  while  man  endures,  into  the  lap 

Of  Ocean,  as  thou  e'er  hast  done  and  dost ! 

Thou  wilt  not,  canst  not,  whelm  a  land  of  which 

Thou  art  the  pride,  the  magistrate,  the  chief, — 

King  I  might  call  thee,  but  we  own  no  king, 

Save  Him  who  sits  upon  the  throne  of  Heaven — 

Into  whose  ear-obedient,  thou  dost  sound 

Thy  mandates  with  authoritative  voice, 


NIAGARA.  31 

Over  whose  children  thou  dost  ever  hold 
Thy  firm  resistless  sway,  and  whose  delights 
Are  sweet  to  thee  in  patriarchal  rule, 
As  offspring- voices  to  parental  hearts. 
Dost  thou  not  bid  her  household  members  pray 
For  richest  boons  of  Heaven  to  store  her  homes  ? 
Nay,  art  thou  not  full  oft  an  altar  made, 
From  which  the  incense  of  the  patriot-heart 
Ascends  perpetually  in  heavenward  course, 
With  the  soft  curlings  of  thy  vapory  breath  ? 
How  oft  the  strong  pulsations  of  thy  heart 
Are  felt  whene'er  thy  presence  is  approached  ! 
Beats  not  that  heart  in  unison  with  ours, 
In  deathless  love  for  our  own  birthright  land  ? 
E'en  though  the  minions  of  decay  may  spring 
Their  secret  mines  beneath  her  deepest  base, 
Eyes  numberless  with  Argus-keenness  watch, 
Hearts  swell  like  thine  with  fullest  tides  of  hope, 
To  see  her  tower  majestic  o'er  all  lands  ! 
Oh !  if  the  stream  that  whirls  in  eddies  wild, 
Beneath  our  nation's  feet,  now  heaving  up 
Discordant  elements,  and  wasting  slow 
Her  deep  foundations,  e'er  should  swell  itself 
And  merge  thy  land  ;  'twere  a  disaster  worse 
By  far  than  deluges  that  sweep  o'er  earth ; 
'T would  make  angelic  bosoms  heave  with  pain, 
And  change  thy  joyous  notes  to  peals  of  death ! 
Yet  in  thy  voice,  thou  Harbinger  of  Truth ! 
I  hear  the  sighings  of  the  down-crushed  heart ; 


32  NIAGARA. 

In  the  bright  glances  of  thy  sunlit  eye, 

I  see  the  flashes  of  the  steel-struck  soul ! 

Hear'st  thou  not  oft  the  death-fraught  clash  of  chains, 

The  sighs  of  burdened  spirits,  and  the  shrieks 

Of  lips  made  strangers  to  affection's  kiss  ? 

Oh !  shout  to  southern  shores,  and  bid  them  strike 

The  fetters  off  from  Afric's  sunburnt  wrists, 

Ere  thou  shalt  celebrate  in  funeral  tones, 

The  obsequies  of  this  wide  nation's  fall ; 

Speak  thou  persuasive,  lest  their  bondage-scheme 

Shall  prove  in  truth  an  Alexandrian  sword, 

To  cut  the  Gordian  knot  that  binds  these  states  ! 

O  tireless  Laborer !  what  an  arm  is  thine, 
Wielding  for  aye  its  instruments  of  toil, 
So  like  th'  Eternal's  never  stayed  in  rest; 
How  hoarse  the  roarings  of  thy  mighty  forge ! 
How  bright  its  flames  enkindled  by  the  sun ! 
Upon  yon  rocky  anvil  falls  the  weight 
Of  thy  strong  hand,  with  never-ending  blows ! 
What  curious  shapes  are  forged,  what  images 
Of  various  form  are  wrought  by  thee  in  tides, 
Whose  changing  hues  and  eddying  life  denote, 
Wondrous  Artificer !  thy  matchless  skill ! 
Man  sways  the  elements  with  Godlike  power, 
Speeds  his  swift  vessels  with  the  vapor's  wings, 
And  tramples  Ocean's  billows  under  foot ; 
Mountains  at  his  command  bow  from  their  heights, 
And  yield  their  summits  to  his  army's  tread, 


NIAGARA.  33 

While  valleys  rise  to  make  his  pathways  high ; 

With  sunbeam-pencils  paints  he  forms  of  love, 

Outrides  the  wind  and  distances  swift  Time 

With  unseen  footsteps  of  electric  sprites ; 

But  never,  O  unconquerable  One  ! 

Can  he  roll  back  thy  tide  or  stay  thy  feet ; 

Within  thy  grasp  less  than  a  child  is  he, 

A  mote,  an  insect  crushed  beneath  thy  hand ; 

'Mid  all  his  high  achievements  thou  art  raised 

The  unsubdued,  the  inapproachable, 

As  on  the  throne  of  Nature's  Deity ! 

As  by  the  mandate  of  the  Great  I  AM, 
Did  Amram's  son  upon  the  holy  ground 
Of  Horeb's  mount,  before  the  burning  bush, 
Make  bare  his  feet  and  stand  in  solemn  awe, 
Nor  nearer  drew  lest  thus  he  might  offend 
The  dread  Divinity  in  flame  arrayed, 6 
So  man,  at  distance  gazing  on  thy  front, 
O  Archetype  of  God !  must  stand  in  dread, 
And  own  the  limit  of  his  might  to  be 
Described  before  the  bulwarks  of  thy  strength. 

Yet,  Master-current !  some  of  earth's  slight  forms 
Survive  thy  touch,  so  like  Omnipotence, 
Enough  to  teach  us  thou  art  not  a  God ; 
For  poised  above  thy  reeling  brink  repose 
Sweet  islands  inaccessible  to  man,  7 
Save  where  his  mechanism  hath  bridged  the  flood. 8 

3 


34  NIAGARA. 

Closely  they  cluster  near  thy  verge  of  deathy 

As  children,  wandering  from  their  father's  home, 

And  lost  in  forest  mazes  speechless  stand. 

Breasting  thy  onward  tide,  that  threatens  all 

With  most  disastrous  shipwreck  on  thy  strand, 

Amid  the  wheeling  breakers  of  thy  rocks, 

They  seem  like  life-boats  cast  upon  the  sea, 

Or  buoys  floating  in  some  sand-barred  bay, 

Placed  by  a  hand  most  provident  to  warn 

Th'  unwary  seaman  of  the  shoals  beneath, 

And  thus  have  served  full  oft  their  task  of  love. 

Lo  !  yonder  comes  a  shell-like  bark  along, 

Whose  steersman  seems  a  victim  doomed  to  thee  5 

His  broken  oar  resists  in  vain  thy  tide ! 

Yet  hope  still  lingers  in  his  soul  of  dreadr 

As  light  oft  glimmers,  when  the  sun  is  gone. 

Upon  the  glaciers  of  an  Alpine  height ; 

He  sees  those  refuge  spots  of  earth  and  seeks, 

Like  a  lone  hunted  victim,  their  defence, 

As  those  of  old,  who  stained  with  blood,  oft  fled 

The  hand  of  vengeance,  reaching  cities  built 

To  shield  the  fugitive,  or  sacred  halls 

Whose  consecrated  shrines  redeemed  th'  offence.  9 

His  hope  is  yet  against  all  hope,  that  makes 

His  heart  grow  sick,  for  through  the  rapids  swift 

That  whirl  in  channels  'twixt  those  anchored  isles,  19 

And  shoot  like  stars  'mid  labyrinths  of  space, 

Or  wheel  like  war-steeds  in  embattled  hosts, 

His  bark  leaps  on  by  myriad  furies  driven  I 


NIAGARA.  35 

O  Heaven  of  mercy !  he  has  reached  yon  isle, 
And  morning  brings  him  rescue  with  its  light !  * ! 

Say,  isles  of  hope !  what  weighty  anchors  hold, 

What  sturdy  cables  keep  your  keels  unmoved  ? 

Ye  have  strong  hands  and  sinews  triple-formed, 

Thus  to  resist  the  strugglings  of  the  tide ! 

How  each,  like  some  bold  athlete,  bending  o'er 

The  wide  arena  in  gymnastic  strife, 

Seems  to  contend  with  supple  arm  and  frame 

Of  muscular  proportions  full  and  broad, 

With  sweating  brow  and  movement  light  and  quick, 

To  win  the  crown  from  his  competitor ! 

Are  ye  not  weary  of  the  ceaseless  war  ? 

Will  not  your  heart-strings  break,  your  strength  die  out, 

And  leave  you  helpless,  to  be  whirled  at  last 

Down  the  broad  steep  like  bombs  from  mortars  shot  ? 

Hold  on,  ye  rivals  of  contending  floods ! 

Brave  be  your  hearts,  well-nerved  your  straining  arms, 

That  man  may  still  a  refuge  in  you  find, 

When  drawn  insensibly  within  yon  tide. 

Ye  lovely  children  of  the  heartless  land ! 

Still  love  and  bless,  though  reft  of  sympathy/ 

And  from  embrace  maternal  coldly  spurned, 

Like  kindness  by  ingratitude  cast  off! 

Ye  straitened  acres !  how  like  grass-grown  graves 

Of  travellers  buried  in  a  stranger-land, 

Ye  chequer  now  that  burial-plain  of  tides ! 


36  NIAGARA. 

Ye  alien  trees !  by  forest  eyes  unseen, 
How  seem  to  me,  like  children  early  torn 
By  barbarous  hands  from  homes  of  luxury, 
And  made  to  dwell  'neath  savage  wigwam  roofs, 
Your  trunks  and  branches  growing  rudely  up, 
Thoughtless  that  kindred  natures  weep  their  loss ! 
How  o'er  the  tide  you  fling  your  shadows  far, 
And  wave  your  leaves  of  green,  like  locks  astray 
Upon  the  cataract's  bald  and  hoary  crown, 
Or  banners  trailing  in  an  army's  march  ! 
Sweet  words  of  wisdom  do  ye  whisper  now, 
Into  my  heart,  that  waken  feelings  blest ; 
I  read  you  there  as  letters  on  the  flood, 
That  teach  their  silent  lessons  to  my  soul. 

Like  you,  though  lonely  and  unbound  by  ties 
Of  sweet  relationship  to  aught  of  earth, 
We  seem  flung  loosely  on  the  tide  of  life, 
'Tis  not  to  sink  in  overwhelming  grief, 
But  like  strong  swimmers  in  the  surging  sea, 
To  breast  the  breakers  till  we  reach  the  shore, 
Or  struggle  on,  though  never  it  be  gained  ! 
Oh  !  we  may  feel  a  sea  of  cheerless  want 
Roll  round  us  here,  and  think  that  death  is  joy, 
That  life  to  us  and  all  is  nothing  worth ; 
Still  may  we  prove,  if  faithful  to  our  trust, 
A  place  of  safety  to  the  shipwrecked  heart, 
A  sign  of  danger  in  its  voyages  here ! 
Yes !  to  our  ever-outstretched  arms  sometimes 


NIAGARA.  37 

The  crippled  spirit,  hurled  by  currents  fierce, 
Will  rush  in  hope  to  make  us  its  retreat, 
And  on  our  bosoms  rest  its  panting  life ! 

Are  we  not  taught  that  Hope  should  never  die, 
That  Love  still  keeps  her  vigils  for  the  lost, 
While  in  life's  flood  sweet  isles  of  shelter  float, 
To  which  we  may,  though  broken  be  our  oar, 
With  deathless  courage  and  unconquered  will, 
Still  steer  our  spirit-bark,  till  it  shall  moor 
Securely  on  the  banks  that  bloom  with  life  ? 

Oh  !  let  us  tread  earth's  gladiatorial  floor, 
And  with  our  rival  foes  contending,  strive 
With  zeal  invincible  and  stern  resolve 
To  win  the  prize,  or  die  with  honor  crowned ! 
Never,  Oh !  never  let  our  coward  hearts 
Plunder  our  strength  or  rob  our  arm  of  force ! 
No !  let  us  strike  our  bold,  resistless  blows, 
Let  us  hold  fast  the  weapons  of  our  might, 
And  wield  them  boldly  at  the  gates  of  Hell, 
Till  Truth  finds  triumph  o'er  its  shattered  walls, 
Till  God  and  man  shall  speak  victorious  praise ! 

What  if  ingratitude,  like  chilling  steel, 

Makes  our  fond  hearts  bleed  freshly  in  their  grief, 

That  bled  before  in  sympathy  and  love, 

For  that  same  hand  which  drives  the  weapon  home  ? 

Shall  we  then  cease  our  love  because  unpaid, 


38  NIAGARA. 

Or  comes  to  us  like  prodigals  in  rags, 

Or  leaves  a  venom  where  it  first  was  warmed  1 

No !  'tis  not  love  that,  mercenary,  seeks 

A  full  equivalent  for  all  its  pains, 

Or  turns  in  heartlessness  away  from  souls 

Who  know  no  object  for  their  love  but  self; 

But  that  is  love  which,  when  neglected,  lives, 

When  crushed  by  curses  rises  up  to  bless, 

When  wet  by  streams  of  chill  estrangement  burns, 

Burns  like  the  wood  on  God's  own  altar  laid 

By  prophet-hands  and  fired  by  prophet-lips, 

E'en  though  the  quenching  streams  were  poured  around, 

And  flames  seemed  strangers  to  the  moistened  wood ; 

Then  may  we  show  our  love  of  heavenly  birth, 

That  we  give  worship  at  the  true  God's  shrine, 

And  tell  the  world  its  Baal-altars  fail 

To  prove  their  deity,  who  gives  no  ear 

To  its  loud  prayers,  no  blessing  to  its  heart.12 

Are  there  not  truths  and  principles  from  Heaven, 

Of  cable-strength  and  anchor- weight,  to  hold 

Our  spirits,  otherwise  the  sport  of  Hell, 

To  which  attached  we  ever  may  defy 

Its  tides  of  ruin  rushing  by  our  rest  ? 

Shall  we  grow  weary  in  the  goodly  war  ? 

No,  never ! — let  us  push  our  crusade  on, 

And  scale  the  battlements  of  Time,  e'en  though 

Upon  their  brink  we  seem  to  hang  o'er  death, 

Until  we  win  the  holy  land  in  joy  ! 


NIAGARA.  39 

Hold  on,  thou  heart,  though  lonely  and  alone, 

Though  wife,  nor  child,  nor  friend,  nor  parent  smile ! 

Hold  on,  though  love  and  sympathy  be  lost ! 

Be  ever  brave,  though  buried  thou  dost  seem, 

In  the  lone  grave-yard  of  obscurity, 

Far  from  the  spheres  where  minds  accordant  dwell, 

Where  rude  hearts  beat  no  loved  response  to  thine, 

Nor  yield  their  homage  to  superior  birth ! 

Hope  on !  love  on !  and  be  to  earth's  old  life, 

What  straggling  hairs  are  to  the  aged  head, 

Memorials  priceless  of  the  early  years, 

The  silent  teachers  of  immortal  truths'! 

The  time  of  blessing  shall  arrive  at  last, 

And  men  shall  own  in  wonderment  thy  worth  f 

Not  of  one  season  is  the  year  composed ; 
Its  months  are  varied  that  it  may  be  blest, 
And  Winter's  teeth  are  indispensable, 
And  fully  worth  the  Summer's  warming  smile ; 
Man's  life  is  made  of  years,  and  must  present 
Misfortune's  chill  as  well  as  fortune's  warmth. 
Like  him,  O  varying  yet  unvaried  Tide ! 
I  see  thee  change  and  still  remain  the  same : 
On  thee  the  Frost  his  jewelled  signet  sets, 
And  makes  thee  glisten  in  new  shapes  of  light. 

There  came  erewhile  the  power  whose  breath  consumes 
The  Summer's  heat  and  gives  her  forms  to  death ; 
The  forest  leaves  grew  pale  at  his  approach, 


40  NIAGARA. 

And  in  his  hand  the  sunbeams  seemed  like  spears, 

Wherewith  he  pierced  their  hearts  until  they  bled, 

And  lifeless  fell  to  earth  in  reddening  gore ; 

The  fertile  soil,  now  yielding  pliantly 

To  the  soft  dalliance  of  the  showers  and  winds, 

Now  like  some  captive  in  a  slave-mart  chained, 

Stands  sullen  and  constrained  with  spirit  crushed ; 

All  cramped  and  stiffened,  like  a  stricken  form, 

In  strong  spasmodic  swoons  it  rolls  and  groans ; 

Through  forest  limbs  the  hoarse  winds  howl  like  wolves 

With  sharpened  teeth  and  claws  unmerciful, 

Seeking  in  hungry  madness  for  their  prey ; 

The  refted  branches  strain  and  crack  their  joints, 

In  vain  collision  with  their  ravager. 

Now  falls  the  hurrying  sleet,  till  icicles 

Impend  from  every  jutting  point,  and  clothe 

Each  trunk  and  pensile  bough  all  beauteously, 

As  if  the  potent  Genii  of  the  deep, 

Or  of  the  mines  where  pearls  and  diamonds  rest, 

Had  quickly,  at  the  touch  of  magic  lamp, 

Or  voice  imperative  of  master-sprites, 

Gathered  their  treasures  from  their  cells  and  caves, 

And  hung  them  glittering  on  each  leafless  tree. 

Far  as  the  vision  journeys  round  the  fields, 
How  every  branch  begemmed  in  beauty  shines 
With  sunlit  radiance  and  with  rainbow  hues ! 
How  many  myriad  eyes  seem  twinkling  now 
Through  every  icy  interstice  of  boughs, 


NIAGARA.  41 

As  if  yon  firmament  were  lowered  to  earth, 

And  stars  had  come  to  visit  us  in  love, 

On  sunbeam-wings  to  cheer  our  spirits  sad, 

And  bid  us  think  that  cold  though  life  may  be, 

And  full  of  chilling  words  and  frosted  hearts, 

There  still  gleams  down  upon  its  withered  things 

The  light  of  Heaven  to  kindle  up  the  soul, 

And  make  us  smile  e'en  'mid  our  cankered  hopes. 

Oh  !  blessed  thought,  that  on  the  frozen  breast, 

However  desolate  its  inner  cells, 

The  forms  of  beauty  and  the  beams  of  love, 

Will  sometimes  from  the  outward  world  approach, 

Or  from  above  it  fall,  whose  influence  sweet 

Will  penetrate  its  labyrinths  so  dark, 

Will  pass  the  portals  of  the  locked-up  heart, 

And  hang  its  necklaces  of  joy  about ; 

Or  bent  o'er  its  cold  hearth  with  warming  breath, 

Will  light  its  sparkless  embers  yet  once  more, 

And  make  the  loves  of  earth  blaze  up  again. 

Come,  look  o'er  Nature  still  and  mark  her  change  ; 
The  wide  lakes  once  in  joyance  tossing  up 
Their  free-born  waves,  now  lie  enslaved  with  all, 
Yet  struggling  fiercely  to  escape  the  grasp 
Of  Winter's  hand,  until  their  ice-ribs  float 
In  thick  confusion  with  their  under-tide, 
Like  coral  islands  built  up  'neath  the  sea; 
On  to  thy  rocky  summit,  O  dread  Fall ! 
They  rush  unchecked,  upon  each  other  piled, 

3* 


42  NIAGARA. 

Till  rising  up,  like  ships  with  crowded  sails, 

That  form  the  armaments  of  earth  at  sea, 

They  sweep  impetuous  with  the  swift-heeled  tide, 

Upon  their  foes  to  bear  down  ruinously, 

Or  meet  destruction  from  a  rival's  strength ; 

On  through  the  narrow  channels,  'twixt  the  isles 

That  seem  to  tremble  at  their  fierce  attacks, 

They  move  resistless  to  the  groaning  verge, 

And  with  the  crash  of  worlds  sink  in  th'  abyss 

All  shattered !     Into  myriad  atoms  torn, 

They  rise  up  with  the  tide  like  shipwrecked  barks, 

That  hurled  on  rocky  shores  dismembered  lie, 

Their  shivered  timbers  and  their  coppered  keels, 

Their  broken  spars  and  tattered  sails,  strewed  round. 

Here  in  the  stream  e'en  at  the  Cataract's  base, 

The  crowding  wrecks  in  high  embankments  rise, 

While  masses  borne  by  under-currents  down, 

Upheave  the  masses  which  above  them  lie, 

Until  piled  up,  those  towering  icebergs  seem 

Like  forts  erected  to  defend  the  land, 

With  pointed  palisades  around  them  fixed. 

Slowly  they  mount  that  height,  before  unsealed, 

With  icy  parapets  and  pickets  high, 

That  with  imprisoning  power  surround  the  tide, 

Whose  murmur  deep  seems  now  to  speak  despair, 

And  mourn  the  chilling  bondage  that  it  bears ! 

So  art  thou  conquered,  O  proud  Cataract ! 

So  strong  is  Winter's  hand  that  knows  no  check, 

And  triumphs  ever  over  thee  in  joy ! 


NIAGARA.  43 

Yet  glorious  art  thou  in  thy  bondage  still, 

Thou  Alp  majestic  'mid  the  fettered  floods ! 

For  thou  dost  tower  like  snow-clad  mountains  high, 

Whose  glacier-tops  with  avalanche  unmoved, 

Defy  the  sun  to  melt  their  frozen  crowns, 

That  steal  the  radiance  of  the  earliest  dawn, 

And  shine  with  eyes  that  rival  e'en  the  stars ! 

I  see  thee  sitting  like  a  Roman  chief 

Upon  his  curule  chair  in  forum  halls, 

Looking  with  quick  and  piercing  glance  around, 

While  lictors  frontward  stand,  his  body-guard, 

With  threatening  fasces  to  enforce  his  word ; 

Or  like  an  army  filed  in  bold  array, 

With  muskets  bright  and  bristling  bayonets, 

That  daze  the  foemen's  eyes  which  miss  their  aim. 

The  snow  comes  now  in  flakes,  that  fall  o'er  thee 
Like  bridal  veils  before  a  virgin  brow ; 
'Twould  seem  that  Winter  thus,  mistaking  thee 
For  some  pure  maid,  would  make  thee  now  his  bride, 
And  so  like  many  wed  old  age  to  youth ; 
Or  else  he  comes,  with  his  monastic  hand, 
To  thee  all  clothed  in  white,  that  like  a  nun, 
Thou  mayst  here  vow  and  shut  thyself  from  earth ! 

I  have  looked  up  on  tall  ancestral  piles 
Of  Gothic  architecture  framed  by  art, 
With  marble  quarried  from  the  whitened  rock, 
That  lifted  high  their  turrets  in  the  light, 


44  NIAGARA. 

And  pointed  many  sharpened  spires  above, 

With  rugged  front  and  visages  all  carved 

In  purposed  rudeness  imitating  life. 

And  now  I  seem  thus  looking  up  to  thee, 

Thou  frost-built  prison  of  the  captured  flood  I 

What  solemn  awe  and  what  emotions  deep, 

Of  grandeur  and  sublimity  arise 

Within  my  wondering  soul  at  sight  of  thee  ! 

Now  like  a  Switzer  huntsman  on  the  Alps, 

With  sandaled  foot  and  iron-pointed  staff, 

I  traverse  here  the  pathway  of  thy  tide, 

All  strongly  paved  with  massive  blocks  of  ice ! 

Down  steep  declivities,  whose  sharpened  sides 

With  jutting  icicles  oppose  my  steps, 

I  pass  securely  through  with  beating  heart ; 

Across  the  clefts  by  thy  convulsions  formed, 

I  leap  along  nor  see  the  chasm  below  ! 

O'er  towering  peaks  whose  craggy  ascents  tire, 

I  slowly  creep  with  clinging  hand  and  foot ; 

Now  up  thy  steep,  while  deaf  to  caution's  voice, 

I  mount  unwearied,  heeding  not  the  threat, 

Thou  thunderest  forth  behind  these  ponderous  walls, 

In  smothered  tones  like  those  of  muffled  drums ! 

Aye !  almost  to  thy  verge  do  I  ascend, 

And  give  thee  back  my  loud  triumphant  shout ! 

E'en  now  can  I  rejoice  o'er  thee  subdued ! 

Yet  no !  I  glory  not  o'er  vanquished  foes, 

O'er  captives  made  to  feel  their  bondage  thus, 

And  much  the  less,  since  not  by  strength  of  mine 


NIAGARA.  45 

Or  wondrous  valor  thou  art  thus  enslaved ; 

'Tis  more  magnanimous  and  just  by  far, 

To  weep  and  sympathize  in  love  with  those 

Whom  God  hath  placed  beneath  our  hand's  control, 

As  hostages  of  trust,  not  collared  serfs, 

O'er  whom  with  rule  of  arbitrary  will, 

We  are  to  tyrannize  and  lift  the  scourge, 

But  to  relieve  and  cherish,  making  thus 

Friends  of  our  foes,  of  aliens,  citizens, 

As  did  the  Romans  with  their  hosts  subdued ; 

So  then  I  leave  thee  till  thy  ransom  comes, 

Till  liberty  of  speech  and  act,  as  erst, 

Are  thine  once  more,  O  conquered  Cataract ! 13 

It  comes !  it  comes !  the  freeing  touch  of  spring, 
It  brings  its  engines  to  these  icy  walls, 
And  batters  down  their  gates  and  razes  them ; 
The  Frost-king's  bulwarks  tumble  to  decay, 
With  dismal  rumblings,  as  if  earth  convulsed, 
Had  opened  every  mouth  to  speak  her  wo ! 
Swift  from  their  thraldom  rush  the  pent-up  tides, 
Repeating  thus  the  freeman's  heartfelt  song : 

"  O  Liberty  !  thou  boon  of  Heaven  to  earth, 
How  priceless  more  than  gems  invaluable, 
Thy  presence  to  the  heart  that  beats  for  thee  ! 
How  bitter  is  thine  absence  to  the  soul, 
Though  other  joys  in  plenty  crowd  around  I 
What  is  the  light  of  Hope,  the  eye  of  Love, 


46  NIAGARA. 

The  ease  of  toilless  hours,  the  voice  of  Truth, 

The  page  of  Wisdom  or  the  pen  of  fire  ? 

What  is  the  fine-spun  garment  to  the  form, 

What  are  the  lute's  soft  tones,  the  song  of  peace, 

If  cramped  within  a  narrow  prison's  walls, 

Or  chained  to  iron- weights,  or  e'en  paroled 

Within  a  little  circle  of  the  earth  we  move  ? 

Without  the  free  light  shining  on  our  brows, 

Without  the  free  air  passing  through  our  lips, 

Without  the  action  of  unfettered  limbs, 

Life  is  not  life,  'tis  a  protracted  death  ! 

Yes !  e'en  the  sunlight  and  the  freshening  air, 

And  sinewy  limb  are  nothing  in  themselves, 

Save  we  are  born  and  live  and  die  all  free ! 

Our  voice  unheard  amid  the  loving  throng, 

Our  hearts  unblessed  while  others  know  Life's  joys, 

Our  frames  not  loosed  to  be  where  Nature  wills, 

All  this  is  wormwood  to  the  free-born  soul, 

That  cannot  brook  another's  tyrant  hand ! 

Oh !  you  may  give  me  earth's  most  needful  gifts, 

Her  fruits,  her  flowers,  and  all  her  nourishment ; 

You  may  envelope  me  with  broidered  gold, 

And  place  me  on  a  brilliant  throne  of  gems ; 

Yet  if  you  keep  me  back  from  Freedom's  paths, 

If  you  divest  me  of  my  chartered  rights, 

If  you  declare  ( no  further  shalt  thou  go,' 

You  take  the  blessing  of  these  gifts  away ! 

But  ah !  if  such  enslavement  makes  life  curst, 

What  is  the  bondage  of  yon  southern  serf, 


NIAGARA.  47 

Who,  reeking  oft  beneath  the  driver's  thrall, 

Burns  with  the  sun's  hot  rays  on  naked  limbs, 

Weeps  at  the  memory  of  his  distant  home, 

And  yearns  for  hearts  like  his  in  servitude, 

But  kept  from  him  by  separating  bars  ? 

If  other  servile  states  seem  lengthened  death, 

Then  this  of  all  is  most  like  Hell  itself! 

Oh !  place  me  on  some  barren  shore  of  rocks, 

On  desert-islands,  or  'mid  sterile  wastes, 

In  fruitless  forests,  or  on  snowy  mounts, 

Let  griping  poverty  my  nature  clutch, 

And  cursed  foes  my  life  for  aye  besiege, 

But  let  me  breathe  the  free  air,  ever  free, 

Wield  my  own  arms  and  move  my  feet  unchained, 

To  roam  o'er  earth  where'er  I  would,  unchecked, 

And  then  I  ask  no  more ;  for  stern  resolve, 

A  most  indomitable  will,  a  heart 

O'erfull  of  hope  and  confidence  in  God, 

A  purpose  right  with  Truth  my  leading-star, 

Will  bring  me  all  that  life  demands  below ; 

Oh  !  give  me  Freedom  and  you  give  me  life  ! 

Then  will  I  grapple  with  my  hell- born  foes, 

Make  them  retreat  in  terror  to  their  homes, 

Harness  Life's  lightning-steeds,  its  griefs,  its  pains, 

In  curbed  subjection  to  my  victor-car, 

Or  crowd  Care's  vapor-breath  between  its  wheels, 

And  make  them  speed  me  to  my  destined  bliss ! 

Yes !  I  will  e'en  the  best  incentives  draw 

To  nobler  action  from  discouragements, 


48  NIAGARA. 

For  when  I  fall,  'tis  but  to  rise  again 

To  higher  summits  than  I've  yet  attained, 

And  not  lie  down  in  dust  and  sackcloth  wrapped, 

In  overwhelming  grief  that  palsies  life. 

I'll  feel,  when  hills  of  opposition  rise, 

They  must  be  levelled  to  my  footsteps'  course ; 

When  vales  of  gloomy  doubt  sink  down  within, 

They  must  be  raised  to  heights  of  sure  success ; 

When  filled  with  weighty  purposes  of  soul 

I'll  see  Hope's  sunlight  far  beyond  Grief's  cloud, 

And  mark  my  path  as  with  an  iron-track, 

O'er  which  I'll  fly  to  reach  the  promised  joy ; 

Oh  !  give  me  Freedom,  and  you  give  me  life  !" 

Along  the  beetling  crags  of  thy  freed  stream, 
And  down  its  banks  of  loosened  rock  I  creep, 
To  view  the  wonders  of  thy  realm,  O  Fall ! 
Lo !  now  I  stand  before  the  emerald  tide 14 
That  laves  my  feet  while  here  I  frame  a  lay, 
To  this  swift  issue  of  thine  ebbing  heart : 

"  Hail,  River  of  the  Fall !  begot  of  Eld  ! IS 
Patrician  'mid  the  plebeian  throng  of  rills, 
Born  in  the  fountain  of  Jehovah's  hand  ! 
Far  from  the  mountains'  rock-ribbed  sides, 
Pierced  by  Convulsion's  spear,  thou  flowest  down, 
The  life-blood  of  their  hearts ;  thou  too  art  formed 
Of  all  the  myriad  sweat-drops  from  the  brows 
Of  earth's  young  hills,  in  toiling  strength  that  strive 


NIAGARA.  49 

To  pass  the  clouds  and  form  a  rest  for  stars. 

The  dews  of  even,  the  vapors  of  the  morn, 

The  streams  that  gush  from  out  the  rifted  rock, 

Like  tears  from  manly  eyes  in  sorrow's  hour, 

Are  gathered  in  thy  course  to  join  thy  tide, 

And  sweep  afar  unwearied  and  unbound  ! 

On  to  th'  embrace  of  Ocean  gray  and  old, 

Thy  virgin  arms  in  filial  love  reach  forth, 

And  spotless  fingers  play  in  dalliance  pure 

'Mid  his  unnumbered  locks  so  white  and  long. 

Thou,  girded  by  the  hills  that  form  the  shore 

Of  steep  precipitous  rocks  and  grassy  banks, 

Dost  wing  thy  flight  e'en  like  the  bird  that  soars 

Above  or  skims  thy  breast ;  for  like  that  bird, 

Thou  hast  on  either  side  a  wing  outspread, 

Plumed  with  gay  verdure,  tipped  with  blossoms  white ; 

And  thou  hast  changed  thy  plumage  oft,  which  Time 

Hath  plucked  to  warm  his  withered  frame  in  vain. 

With  claws  of  icicles  old  Winter  too 

Hath  torn  away  the  down-like  green  that  clothed 

Thy  mighty  pinions ;  yet  again  sweet  Spring 

Hath  vested  thee  in  beauty,  warmed  thy  heart, 

Unriveted  thy  chains,  and  broke  the  bars 

Wherewith  thou  hadst  been  caged,  and  set  thee  free ; 

The  Summer's  eye  hath  made  more  bright  thy  hues, 

Until  the  radiance  of  thy  waves  and  banks 

Hath  so  intensely  glowed,  that  e'en  this  heart, 

Tn  which  the  spring-tide  of  its  song  had  ebbed, 

And  summer-ray  of  love  was  almost  quenched, 


50  NIAGARA  . 

Leaped  up  in  rapture  with  a  strain  for  thee. 

Down  to  the  sea's  wide  halls  thy  tireless  tide, 

From  northern  hills  and  mountains'  cloven  brows, 

Still  flows  when  south  winds  with  their  life-fraught  breath, 

Come  soft  from  sunny  climes  o'er  wave  and  vale. 

How  sweetly,  when  the  Day  hath  dropped  his  lid, 

And  Eve  o'er  Nature  flings  her  mantle  gray, 

Dances  the  moonbeam  to  the  melody 

Which  oft  thy  waters  play  most  musical, 

To  fill  the  ear  with  harpings  of  the  Night. 

The  Zephyrs  fleet  on  thy  wave-covered,  breast, 

Leave  as  they  speed  the  imprint  of  their  feet, 

E'en  as  the  desert  steeds  their  pathway  make 

On  the  wide  circle  of  the  silvery  sand. 

I  saw  the  dark  wing  of  the  tempest  pass, 

As  with  the  raven's  hue,  to  dim  the  sky ; 

The  lightning's  glance  shot  fiercely  from  the  cloud, 

As  toward  the  burning  day-star  fearless  looks 

Shoot  from  the  daring  eagle's  eye  aloft : 

That  wing  then  fanned  the  water's  flushing  cheek, 

And  from  my  view  obscured  the  moonbeam's  smile, 

But  soon  away  far  in  the  realms  of  blue, 

With  wild  storm-shrieks  and  rushing  whirls,  it  fled. 

Then  softly  came  again  thy  murmur  near, 

With  virgin  voice,  like  whisperings  of  rain, 

Gently  it  rose  the  spirit  of  the  air, 

Telling  of  joy,  and  love,  and  liberty  ! 

Oh !  the  sweet  rush  of  waters,  how  it  speaks 

Of  Heaven's  far  bliss,  and  in  the  holy  heart 


NI  AGAR  A  .  51 

Echoes  the  songs  of  ransomed  souls  above, 
Songs  that  shall  flow  with  crystal  streams  of  life, 
Eternally  along  a  rapturous  tide, 
'Mid  sacred  homes  where  God  is  all  in  all." 

Adown  thy  banks,  great  River !  still  I  roam, 

Though  from  the  overhanging  rocks  above, 

Thy  frowns  be  brooding  terror  on  my  path, 

Or  from  the  pendant  moss  thy  tear-drops  fall 

In  grief  because  of  my  intrusive  feet ; 

A  rugged  pathway  o'er  thy  rocks  I  find, 

Anon  o'ergrown  with  clambering  eglantine, 

Feeding  its  blossoms  from  a  scanty  soil, 

And  now  projecting  high  their  sharpened  points 

T'  avenge  th'  encroachments  of  the  curious  foot. 

Here,  many  a  grotesque  grotto,  rock  and  cave,  18 

Where  silence  sleeps,  and  spirits  make  their  home, 

Where  sunlight  is  a  stranger,  and  its  warmth 

A  foe  that  dreads  encounter,  meet  the  gaze. 

See,  in  their  hollow  chambers,  that  repeat 

The  pantings  of  my  breast  with  mocking  hate, 

What  pure  stalactites,  pendant  from  the  roof, 

Like  Chasteness  drooping  with  downfallen  lids, 

Seem  in  their  varied  shapes  to  be  the  forms 

That  tricksy  spirits  love  to  dwell  within, 

Wrought  by  their  plastic  hands  with  matchless  skill ! 

These  dim  recesses,  scarcely  trod  by  man, 

Seem  laboratories  for  their  unseen  art, 

Or  council  halls  for  their  prolific  minds, 


52  NIAGARA. 

Wherein  they  mingle  Nature's  elements, 
And  frame  in  mirth  her  images  of  life, 
Or  plan  their  projects  for  assaults  on  man. 

Ye  rugged  Cliffs !  whose  high  embattled  fronts 

Erect  their  fortress  o'er  the  eddying  tide, 

To  guard  the  frontier  of  this  chainless  soil, 

Birthplace  of  brave  unconquerable  souls  ! 

How  like  the  stern  commanders  in  a  fight, 

Ye  stand  arrayed  with  panoply  of  strength ! 

What  thoughtful  grandeur  lies  imprinted  deep 

Upon  your  verdant  brows  and  moistened  cheeks, 

Like  the  sad  countenance  of  a  care-worn  soul ; 

Yet  oh  !  what  terror  poised  in  mid  air  seems 

About  to  roll  upon  intruding  man, 

Who  walks  a  pigmy  at  your  pebbly  feet ! 

Lo !  while  I  speak,  your  arms  are  far  outstretched 

To  hurl  their  rocky  missiles  down  th'  abyss, 

As  if  ye  were  dread  catapults  of  wo ! 

What  demon  fell  doth  now  unchain  your  hands, 

And  bids  you  scatter  ruin  all  below  ? 

I  hear  your  voice  now  hoarsely  thundering, 

And  see  your  rock-bolts  hurtling  in  the  air ! 

Stay,  Ravager  of  life  !  stop,  Fiend,  thy  work ! 

Alas  !  too  late  ! — he  who  in  solemn  awe 

And  rapt  delight  had  gazed  aloft  on  all 

The  stern  bold  veterans  of  this  guarded  camp  ; 

He  who  had  said  to  rocks  and  cataracts, 

•"  Ye  are  my  foes  and  yet  I  dread  you  not," 


NIAGARA.  53 

Feels,  now  descending,  their  vindictive  strokes, 
And  sinks  with  shattered  corpse  upon  the  strand !  17 

0  dread  Avenger !  fearful  'tis  for  man 
To  bid  defiance  to  thy  potent  arm, 

Or  trifle  with  thine  ancient  dignity ; 

'Tis  e'en  as  if  he  braved  the  might  of  God, 

And  flung  rebellion  at  His  honored  throne  ! 

Ye  Turrets  of  the  stream  !  I  dread  your  fall, 

And  pray  th'  Omnipotent  to  keep  you  up ! 

With  trembling  heart  and  humble  voice  and  step, 

1  tread  in  sinuous  course  the  shivered  rocks, 
And  stand  at  thy  dark  entrance,  mystic  Cave ! 
Which  men  have  called  the  "Cavern  of  the  Winds."  l8 
E'en  though  the  showery  spray  may  drench  my  form, 
To  claim  its  guerdon  for  intrusion  here, 

I  enter  now  and  stand  within  the  court 

Of  this  vast  temple,  whither  throng  the  tribes 

Of  earth  from  her  unnumbered  fonts,  to  bow 

In  kindred  worship  at  their  altar  flood, 

As  came  the  Patriarch's  children  from  their  homes, 

To  render  homage  at  the  ancient  shrine.  19 

Within  thy  high-arched  walls,  the  priestly  winds, 

Assembled  from  the  distant  realms  of  life, 

Do  minister  apart  in  solemn  train, 

Sending  aloft  the  smoke  of  sacrifice, 

In  the  thick  curlings  of  the  rising  mist, 

The  waves  their  victims,  and  the  flint  their  knife. 


54  NIAGARA. 

I  hear  the  death-stroke  and  the  gurgling  groans, 
The  heart-deep  invocation  of  the  winds, 
The  shout  of  multitudes  in  outer  courts, 
The  chorus-music  of  the  waterfall ! 
I  see  the  sombre  walls,  the  bowing  roof, 
And  feel  my  spirit  overpressed  with  awe ! 
Delay  no  longer,  O  my  soul,  or  die ! 
Back  to  the  sunlight's  sympathy  I  rush, 
And  breathe  more  gentle  airs  on  earth  again. 

Happy  for  me  that  I  may  thus  escape, 
Since  to  another  came  the  penal  strokes 
Of  angry  winds,  who,  when  their  temple-halls 
Were  entered  by  his  sacrilegious  foot, 
Claimed,  unappeased,  the  forfeit  of  his  life. 

Still  down  thy  banks,  O  River  of  the  Fall ! 

I  roam  in  dream-like  ecstasy  enthralled ; 

I  heed  no  danger,  yield  to  no  repulse, 

No  hardship  dread,  and  feel  no  weariness, 

So  rapturous  my  thoughts,  so  strong  the  spell 

Of  thy  wild  beauty  o'er  my  soul,  until 

Oblivious  of  my  own  identity, 

I  seem  a  part  of  Nature's  edifice, 

Built  round  these  laboring  floods  to  screen  their  toil, 

Here  standing  awed  amid  her  central  halls. 

All  these  are  thy  hereditary  homes, 

That  meet  the  view  as  those  of  feudal  lands, 

Where  kings  and  castles  guard  the  tenant-soil, 


NIAGARA.  55 

The  soil  round  which  the  deep-dug  moat  extends, 
E'en  as  thy  channels  stretch  between  their  banks, 
Beyond  whose  wide  gap  with  its  bridge  withdrawn, 
The  strong  portcullis  of  most  ponderous  weight, 
Falls  with  the  treadings  of  thy  cataract ! 

What  towering  form  erects  its  figure  here, 

To  check  the  footsteps  of  inquiring  man, 

As  if  it  were  a  sentry  at  his  post, 

To  guard  with  faithfulness  the  narrow  pass  ? 

It  is  the  Rock  of  Manitou,  the  Pinnacle  *° 

On  which  the  gloomy  Spirit  of  the  Fall, 

Sits  brooding  o'er  the  tide  below,  that  shows 

His  fearful  frowns  reflected  in  its  wave, 

Or  feels  the  movements  of  his  busy  hand 

Searching  its  depths  and  torturing  its  course, 

Till  its  full  currents  reel  in  conscious  pain ! 

How  high  the  Water-God  his  altar  rears 

With  jagged  summits  from  a  liquid  base  ! 

How  green  the  moss  that  decks  its  time-worn  crown, 

Like  youthful  forms  that  cluster  round  old  age ! 

From  yonder  cliff  impending  o'er  the  stream 

With  shadowy  fringes  of  the  evergreen, 

This  massive  pile,  like  an  inverted  cone, 

Seems  hurled  in  other  years  with  giant  hand, 

Upon  the  kindred  masses  dashed  below ! 

Here  on  thy  height,  thou  offspring  of  the  cliff! 

Do  I  usurp  the  throne  of  Manitou, 

Yet  tremulously  bend  to  gaze  intent 


56  NIAGARA. 

Upon  th'  imprisoned  waters,  struggling  hard 

Within  their  rock-bound  area  for  escape, 

Like  chafing  lions  caged  by  iron  bars, 

And  lashing,  in  ungovernable  rage, 

Their  heated  sides  with  love  for  liberty  ! 

On  through  the  straitened  gorge  they  wildly  rush, 

And  maddened  with  repulse  return  again, 

But  to  renew  their  strength  for  victory, 

And  make  fresh  onsets  to  conclude  the  siege ! 

Anon  they  fling  their  foaming  arms  on  high, 

And  hurl  their  javelin  tides  to  win  the  pass ; 

Again  they  sound  retreat  in  columns  close, 

Shrinking  away,  as  if  in  fear,  but  yet 

Returning  still  invincible,  with  new 

Assailing  bands  that  to  their  rescue  rush ; 

They  speed  like  worried  steeds  that  scour  the  plain, 

Champing  their  bits  and  foaming  at  the  mouth. 

Ho !  now  they  triumph  with  terrific  shout, 

And  break  each  barrier  that  obstructs  their  march, 

Leaping  from  rock  to  rock,  from  bank  to  bank, 

And  dashing  up  against  the  tall  crag's  base, 

As  if  to  scale  its  unascended  walls. 

The  channel's  bed  seems  now  to  ope  below 

And  leave  a  thousand  outlets  for  its  tides ; 

For  round  and  round,  the  rapid  vortices, 

Like  the  gyrations  swift  of  eagle-wings, 

Whirl  in  the  wild  delirium  of  their  joy, 

As  if  intoxicate  with  bright  success, 

Bearing  away  from  human  view  below, 


NIAGARA.  57 

For  long  unreckoned  hours,  the  shattered  spoils, 
Hurled  into  their  embrace  from  yonder  flood. 
Now,  summoned  in  united  ranks  of  strength, 
The  waters  meet  and  form  the  whirlpool's  shape, 
That  seems  its  own  destroyer,  turning  round 
T'  ingulf  its  life,  in  madness  unrestrained, 
And  then  its  own  creator,  from  its  maw 
Ejected,  till  away  it  shoots  in  light, 
A  wild  artillery  of  floods,  that  lose 
Their  name  and  likeness  in  Ontario's  wave  !21 

Once  more,  my  steps  retraced,  before  thy  front 
I  stand  an  awe-struck  listener  to  thy  words, 
Great  Primate  of  the  floods,  whose  breathings  die 
All  hushed  before  the  pantiugs  of  thy  heart, 
That  gushes  out  with  Nature's  loudest  voice ! 
What  lessons  from  her  book  may  we  receive  ? 
Loud  from  thy  pulpit  most  magnificent, 
Thou  solemn  Preacher,  pour  with  voiceful  tongue, 
Into  the  ear  of  man  thy  homilies ! 
Oh !  tell  how  beamed  the  early-born  of  light 
With  freshest  hues  upon  thy  crystal  lips ! 
How  shone  its  beauties  o'er  thine  amber  brow, 
And  how  the  imaged  stars  leaped  down  thy  sides, 
And  sported  in  the  sparkling  waves  below ! 
Tell  how  th'  Almighty  from  his  hand  profuse, 
Scattered  the  leaves  of  incense-breathing  flowers, 
Where  first  that  hand  had  cleaved  the  rock  in  twain, 
And  left  them  on  its  ancient-looking  sides, 

4 


58  NIAGARA. 

Clinging  in  love,  as  clingeth  youth  to  age  f 

Tell  thou,  when  Nature's  harp  was  newly  strung, 

And  sounded  in  yon  firmament  afar, 

.How  to  their  choral  stations  rushed  the  stars 

At  morn's  first  waking,  in  their  joy  to  sing 

Their  hymn  of  life,  and  make  their  footsteps  light 

Accompany  in  dance  their  shout  and  song, 

Their  movement  seeming  naught  but  music's  self! 

Tell  how  from  fountains  inexhaustible 

Thy  spring-tides  leaped  to  life  at  God's  great  voice, 

And  held  its  echoes  in  their  silent  depths, 

Till  rolled  their  thunderings  o'er  thy  rocky  heights ! 

Say,  spoke  thou  not  in  loudest  tones  of  joy, 

To  see  green  life  born  on  thy  stony  banks  ? 

When  first  the  day-star  climbed  th'  ethereal  steep, 

Didst  thou  not  glass  his  light  reflecting  wide 

The  glory  of  his  crest  on  every  height  ? 

Aye,  thou  hast  heralded  his  advent  morn, 

And  caught  his  beauty  penciled  on  thy  mist 

In  the  blent  colors  of  the  rainbow's  arch. 

When  sang  the  morning  stars  their  first-born  hymn, 

Thy  deep-toned  music  mingled  with  their  voice  ! 

Tell  me,  thou  Waterfall,  were  not  their  strains 

Like  thine,  a  cataract  of  song,  that  came 

Enrapturing  to  thine  ear,  as  if  from  Heaven 

Celestial  bands  had  stooped  and  made  the  air 

Itself  harmonious  with  unwritten  notes  ? 

Didst  thou  not  cease  thy  flow,  and  breathless  hush 

The  dull  discordance  of  thy  fluid  tongue, 


NIAGARA.  59 

And  listen  awe-struck  to  their  choral-song  ? 

Or  tell  thou  rather,  if  of  later  times 

Thou  hadst  thy  birth,  when  earth  from  Heaven  baptized, 

Was  in  the  font  of  Nature  purified, 

When  man  corrupt  sank  in  the  deluge-depths, 

And  left  no  blazing  monument  of  crime  ! 

Was  not  thy  shout  first  rung  in  earth's  sad  ear, 

When  rushed  the  gathered  tide  along  thy  path, 

When  bows  of  promise  bridged  thy  dripping  banks  ? 

Ah  !  there  they  glisten  in  the  penciled  light, 

For  ever  painted  on  thy  dewy  brow, 

Thy  wreaths  of  glory  fadeless  as  the  sun ! 

There  still  like  blessed  amaranthine  flowers, 

They  bloom  immortal  with  the  youth  of  heaven, 

As  fresh,  as  fair,  as  beautiful  and  bright 

As  when  at  first,  traced  by  the  pencil-touch 

Of  hands  divine,  they  trembled  o'er  thy  depths  ! 

Yet,  yet  we  cannot  deem  thee  less  in  age 

Than  stars  that  troop  above  thee,  on  the  hills 

That  keep  their  soldier-watch  around,  and  build 

The  unstormed  bulwark  of  thy  warlike  tides ; 

The  myriad  gray  locks  of  thy  wrinkled  brow 

Tell  us  of  years  unnumbered  save  by  thee ! 

Speak,  Waterfall !  announce  thy  primal  birth  ! 

What  age  first  cradled  thee  ?  declare  thyself 

Ancient  as  man,  coeval  with  the  Sun ! 

For  nameless  centuries,  each  child  of  Time 

Born  with  that  sun,  each  day  has  heard  thy  voice 

Sounding  a  morning  welcome  to  the  light, 


60  NIAGARA. 

And  when  it  rose  to  manhood's  zenith-home, 
Thy  cheer  went  up  triumphing  in  its  joy, 
Until  the  twilight  gray  sprinkled  its  brow 
With  hoary  hairs,  and  laid  it  down  to  die. 
Each  varying  season  of  the  year  has  heard 
Th'  unvaried  rhythm  of  thy  deep-toned  song. 
O  Priest  of  Nature  !  at  her  altar  bent, 
Still  ministering  unwearied  at  thy  task, 
Thou  hast  invoked  with  supplications  thus, 
The  power  that  breathes  her  being  into  earth  : 

"  Spirit  of  life,  awake  !  the  sepulchre 

Of  frost  no  more  must  hold  the  beauteous  forms 

Of  thy  creation  !     Come  and  re-assume 

Thy  garment  of  material  things,  and  smile 

In  fresh-awakened  flowers,  in  verdant  hills, 

In  fruitful  vales  and  liberated  streams ; 

Descend,  O  Breath !  and  let  terrestrial  shapes 

Arise  and  in  celestial  beauty  shine ! 

Bring  gentle  Spring,  and  waft  her  odors  round 

With  the  sweet  fannings  of  angelic  wings ; 

Recall  the  exiled  birds,  whose  song  may  be 

To  my  deep  bass  the  treble  melody. 

Bring  Summer  with  her  golden  tresses  near, 

Till  drop  the  pastures  of  the  wilderness, 

With  the  rich  presents  of  her  bounteous  hand, 

Till  the  wide  vales  are  clothed  with  browsing  herds, 

And  hills  shout  to  each  other  in  their  joy  ! 

Bring  Autumn  in  her  mantle  sere  enrobed, 


NIAGARA  .  61 

With  paling  cheek,  to  strew  o'er  earth  her  seed, 

The  treasured  messengers  of  future  growth ; 

While  myriad  branches  drop  their  faded  leaves, 

That  in  the  deep  and  silent  woods  are  heard, 

The  echoing  footfalls  of  the  passing  year, 

As  if  its  days  with  quick  and  shortened  steps, 

Were  hurrying  darkly  to  complete  its  life. 

Or  let  old  Winter  come  with  mission  stern ; 

We  need  not  ever  fear  his  frowning  face, 

For  on  his  brow  is  sagest  wisdom  graved, 

And  in  his  heart  are  blessed  images ; 

His  touch,  though  cold  and  hardening,  purifies, 

His  chains,  though  heavy,  check  our  vagrant  course, 

His  grasp,  though  painful,  yet  is  strengthening ; 

Spring,  Summer,  Autumn,  Winter  bring  to  earth ; 

Bring  Day  and  Night,  bring  Morning,  Noon  and  Eve, 

Day  for  the  sleeper  to  awake  and  toil, 

Night  for  the  wearied  laborer  to  repose, 

Morn  for  the  youthful  heart  to  light  its  path, 

Noon  for  maturity  to  heat  its  brow, 

Eve  for  decrepitude  to  trace  the  Past ; 

Bring  all  these  seasons  in  their  order  round, 

These  parts  and  members  of  Time's  towering  shape, 

Whose  chariots  are  the  whirlwind  and  the  storm, 

And  clouds  the  dust  of  his  still  journeying  feet."  2* 

The  quiet  eve  comes  on,  the  rest  of  day, 
When  fleeing  hill  and  dell,  the  sun  lies  down, 
By  the  dun  shadows  curtained  in  his  rest. 


62  NIAGARA. 

Yet  sweetly  to  the  grassy  valley's  verge, 

The  lingering  rays,  e'en  as  if  loth  to  part 

With  the  sweet  flowers  'mid  which  at  morn  they  played, 

Cling  fondly,  till  no  more  they  dare  delay, 

Then  climb  the  hills,  and  cast  one  parting  look 

Upon  the  meadows  and  the  streams  below. 

From  this  high  point,  on  which  my  footsteps  rest, 

I  look  upon  this  beauteous  land,  outstretched 

In  loveliest  forms  far  'mid  the  distance  blue, 

Till  by  the  mountains  checked,  my  vision  halts 

On  yonder  slope  that  creeps  beneath  their  feet, 

And  rises  up  afar  to  haughty  heights. 

Sweet  Nature's  green  and  sunlight's  yellow  hues, 

Mingle  as  in  a  dying  look  of  day. 

Far  from  the  valley's  darkening  breast  has  passed 

The  brightness  of  the  noon,  and  now  it  seems 

To  take  its  rest,  spread  o'er  with  shades  of  trees, 

As  with  its  night-robe  clothed ;  calmly  it  lies 

In  its  soft,  peaceful  bed,  like  some  sweet  maid, 

Lying  in  deepest  trance,  and  yet  not  dead, 

Glowing  with  beauty,  e'en  though  motionless, 

As  if  all  life  and  motion  were  forgot. 

Yon  vale  is  checked,  its  verdant  face  is  hid 

By  those  tall  banks,  where  streamlets  blend  their  tears, 

In  one  vast  stream,  whose  ever  hurrying  tides 

Trace  their  most  way  along  in  winding  course, 

That  oft  o'erflowing,  with  their  gathered  strength, 

Their  native  bars  leap  up  the  steep  hillside, 

Till  far  off  vales  with  covering  waters  fill, 


NIAGARA.  63 

Nor  smile  again  till  crowding  sunbeams  come, 
And  bear  them  captive  to  the  distant  cloud ; 
How  sweetly  then  those  vales  reclining  seem 
With  glistening  herbage,  bright  as  emerald  gems, 
That  creeps  up  into  being  with  the  Spring, 
Twin-born  with  her,  copartner  of  her  youth. 
But  lo !  the  shades  high  to  the  hill-tops  mount, 
And  bats  that  fear  the  day  are  flitting  by, 
The  last  red  ray  of  yonder  setting  sun, 
Like  the  last  drop  for  love  and  Freedom  shed, 
Poured  out  on  earth  to  be  exhaled  to  heaven, 
Is  thrown  from  mountain-heights  up  to  the  cloud, 
Whose  edge  it  tinges  with  its  gorgeous  hue, 
Then  in  the  gray  sky  pales  itself  in  death ! 
So  die  the  good ;  they  spend  a  day  below, 
In  blessing  hearts  benighted,  with  their  light, 
Diffusing  Love's  own  warmth  through  all  its  cells, 
And  to  Hope's  zenith  lift  their  lofty  souls, 
While  tides  of  joy  and  clouds  of  care  oft  met, 
Are  friends  and  foes  that  bless  or  curse  them  here, 
Till  down  Life's  circle  they  at  evening  pass, 
And  o'er  the  crystal  river  stoop  to  drink, 
Whence  in  the  pathway  of  the  true  and  just, 
They  brighter  shine  unto  the  perfect  day. 

Night  now  is  on  the  waters !  but  a  night 
Not  of  deep  gloom,  when  stormy  spirits  rave, 
Clashing  their  thundering  arms  with  lightning-strokes, 
Casting  o'er  earth,  their  war-field,  drops  of  life, 


64  NIAGARA. 

And  marking  on  her  surface  words  of  death  ; 
It  is  a  night  of  calm,  of  loveliness, 
Streaming  along  the  turrets  of  the  sky, 
Like  silver  banners  hung  o'er  castles  gray, 
And  spreading  over  isles  and  waterfalls, 
The  moonlight  radiance  through  benighted  clouds, 
Like  leaves  of  sunset  torn  from  daylight's  book, 
Laid  down  at  intervals  on  fields  of  shade. 

I  saw  the  day-star  set  behind  the  hills  ; 

The  shadows  fell  o'er  plain,  and  stream,  and  vale, 

As  if  the  sunbeams  bright  had  lost  their  life, 

And  now  had  lengthened  out  their  darkened  forms 

To  die  on  earth  ;  slowly  they  sank  to  rest, 

Their  requiem  sung  in  vesper-tones  of  birds, 

And  leaves  and  brooks  that  murmured  low  their  grief 

In  muffled  winds,  and  groaning  cataracts ; 

The  tearful  flowers  their  censers  waved  in  arr, 

The  streams  moved  on  funereal  to  the  sea, 

Their  burial-place,  bearing  with  solemn  looks 

The  death-shades  of  the  day;  and  as  they  marched1, 

Their  footsteps  lightly  might  be  heard  to  sweep 

Along  th'  enamelled  banks,  themselves  all  clad 

With  Night's  dim  robe  of  grief.     The  hills  stood  by, 

Like  dark-veiled  mourners  round  the  couch  of  death, 

With  sorrow  mute,  ar.d  witnessed  last  of  all 

Tho  spectacle  of  Day's  departing  light, 

Sending  their  tears  forth  from  their  fountain-eyes, 

While  the  green  trees,  their  offspring  on  their  breasts, 


NIAGARA  .  65 

Wept  dew-drops  down  upon  the  sad  dark  bier, 
Borne  by  the  rivers  on.     All  Earth  was  still, 
Her  hour  for  tears  had  now  returned  again, 
For  darkness  settled  on  her  heart  its  weight ; 
The  moaning  Waterfall  threw  down  his  form 
In  grief's  abandonment,  and  writhed  in  wo ; 
Yet  not  forgetful  of  the  widowed  sky, 
Into  her  ear  he  poured  his  sympathies 
With  manly  voice,  to  soothe  her  aching  breast ; 
And  o'er  her  brow  to  close  her  sleepless  lids, 
Whose  starry  lashes  shone  'mid  dewy  tears, 
Drew  the  soft  curtains  of  his  gauze-like  mists. 
Slowly  the  moments  made  their  pilgrimage, 
For  the  dim  clouds  hung  o'er  the  path  of  Time, 
To  frown  away  the  stars  that  measure  night, 
And  check  his  chariot  wheels  in  circling  course. 
The  last  deep  sigh  of  natural  life  seemed  heaved, 
At  evening,  and  methought  the  pulseless  earth 
Had  died  indeed,  her  children  parentless, 
And  not  a  kindred  orb  to  weep  her  loss. 
But  lo !  a  spirit's  wing  appeared  to  fan 
The  fainting  world,  and  lifelike  airs  were  breathed, 
The  clouds  were  cleft,  and  through  the  opening  rifts, 
Beyond  the  hills,  a  mellow  ray  rose  up, 
The  full-orbed  moon  on  toward  the  zenith  wheeled, 
Filling  the  air  with  harmonies  of  light. 
See,  how  like  some  pure  maid,  with  glowing  brow 
And  panting  breast,  her  locks  and  garments  loose, 
She  seems  to  rest  her  weary  feet,  that  strove, 

4* 


66  NIAGARA. 

All  day  before  the  swift-pursuing  Sun, 
Amid  the  starry  forests,  to  escape 
The  hot  embraces  of  his  loving  arms ; 
And  now  in  triumph  smiling  she  looks  down 
To  see  her  image  mirrored  on  the  stream, 
Above  which,  floating  silently,  she  binds 
Her  locks  disheveled,  and  adjusts  her  robes. 
The  forest-trees,  like  monks  in  cloisters  dim, 
Where  shines  a  solitary  lamp  around, 
Seem  on  their  brows  to  wear  the  shading  cowl, 
And  with  their  leaves  to  tell  their  beaded  prayers. 
As  when  from  tower  and  hill  the  silver  trump, 
That  told  the  new-moon's  advent-hour,  was  heard, 
Sounded  by  priestly  lips,  whose  eyes  kept  watch 
On  Canaan's  heights,  to  bid  her  people  haste 
And  hold  their  lunar  festival  anew, 23 
So  from  thy  watchtower,  thou  dost  trumpet  forth, 
Still  faithful  in  thy  ministering  office  found, 
O  strong- voiced  Cataract !  with  wakening  tones 
Thy  welcome  to  the  Measurer  of  months, 
Thy  summons  to  the  near  and  distant  tides, 
To  ebb  and  flow  beneath  her  influence  soft, 
And  congregate  within  thy  templed  courts, 
To  do  her  homage,  bowing  at  her  shrine. 

Lo !  what  enchantment  now  enthrals  the  earth  ! 
Whose  scenes  all  changed  from  sadness  to  delight, 
Here  revel  in  resuscitated  life ! 
Like  the  wide  area  of  a  tournament, 


NIAGARA.  67 

Where  steel-clad  knights  and  beauteous  maidens  throng, 

Where  king  and  courtier,  prince  and  vassal  meet, 

Where  queens  and  rustic  lasses  glance  around, 

All  decked  with  colors  stolen  from  the  sun, 

So  now  each  field,  each  hill,  each  rocky  crag, 

Each  tree,  each  island,  and  each  waterfall, 

Sparkling  beneath  the  moon's  maternal  smile, 

Gleams  with  the  lustre  of  her  borrowed  beams. 

O'er  all  is  cast  alternate  light  and  shade, 

Like  histories  of  life  writ  on  the  heart. 

The  images  of  trees,  wrought  on  the  tides 

By  intercepted  rays,  seem  sailing  down ; 

The  frowns  of  haughty  cliffs  are  now  transferred 

To  waters  meeting  in  their  tilted  fight ; 

And  in  their  stead  the  smiles  of  love  appear, 

As  though  like  worshiped  mistresses  they  looked, 

With  eager  interest  on  the  joust  below, 

Prepared  to  cast  their  crowns  on  conquering  brows. 

On  visored  mists,  where  lunar  rainbows  curve, 

See  now  is  hung  a  coronet  of  light, 

Across  the  temples  of  the  Cataract 

That  towers  in  triumph  o'er  his  rival  hosts, 

And  loudly  from  the  tented  field  ascend 

Exulting  shouts,  to  claim  the  victor's  meed ; 

While  minstrel-streamlets  chant  in  liquid  strains, 

Their  welcome  praises  to  his  panting  soul, 

And  tell  the  sweets  of  summer's  maiden-charms. 

O  Night  most  beautiful !     O  lovely  Night ! 

With  tesselated  brow  and  eyes  of  jet, 


68  NIAGARA. 

Where  light  and  darkness  like  twin-children  meef, 

How  rapt  my  spirit  lies  beneath  thy  spell, 

And  yields  its  musings  to  thy  sweet  control ! 

O  genial  Night !  thy  halls  are  populous ! 

Thy  realm  is  not  the  home  of  solitude, 

For  images  of  life  move  through  thine  aisles. 

And  voices  musical  thine  arches  fill  f 

Hark !  what  strange  music  hither  floats  along, 

As  if  some  spirit  from  the  world  of  sound 

Were  passing  now  o'er  earth  with  flitting  wings, 

That  drop  sweet  notes,  like  dews  from  pinioned  forms? 

And  ha  f  what  shape,  as  o'er  the  Cataract  hang, 

Stands  on  the  point  of  yon  projecting  ledge  1 

What  form  is  that  ?     A  phantom  of  the  night  ? 

An  errant  spirit  loosed  from  airy  climes  ? 

'Tis  he,  lone  man  !  the  Hermit  of  the  Fall ! 

That  kinless  wanderer,  seen  but  yet  unknown  !M 

He  came  a  stranger  to  these  western  homes, 

A  wonder  to  the  hosts  that  throng  this  shrine, 

Far  from  the  isle  that  sleeps  beyond  the  wave, 

The  brightest  gem  in  Ocean's  coronet, 

That  in  the  firmament  of  nations  shines 

A  star  ascendant,  whose  high  gtories  reach 

These  shores,  and  distant  climes  that  seem 

The  birthplace  and  the  cradle  of  the  sun. 

He  came,  he  saw  thy  lovely  form,  thy  curling  brow, 

And  radiant  smile,  he  heard  thy  siren  voicer 


NIAGARA.  69 

And  ravished  by  thy  looks  and  tones  of  love, 

Gave  thee  his  heart,  thou  Circe  of  the  flood  ! 

Upon  yon  isle,  where  daylight's  Iris  hues 

Lie  down  at  night  in  weariness  to  sleep, 

His  lonely  chamber,  from  the  sun'  ^ams  hid, 

Holds  him  a  willing  captive,  self-exiled 

From  social  raptures  and  companionships 

Of  man ;  no  stranger-foot  his  threshold  treads, 

No  kindly  voice  of  friendship  bids  his  tongue 

Utter  the  sad  creations  of  his  soul  ; 

No  smile  of  woman  sparkled  on  his  eye, 

Source  of  man's  highest  joy  and  deepest  wo! 

But  solitude,  the  brooding  spirit  of  decay, 

Parent  of  melancholy,  ever  dwells 

All  solemn,  silent  and  unseen,  with  him, 

Aye  undisturbed  save  by  the  stealthy  tread 

Of  creatures  mute  that  are  his  only  friends. 

There  all  the  livelong  day  he  sits  and  writes 

In  undeciphered  words  of  ancient  tongues, 

The  thoughts  that  eat  his  heart  and  burn  his  brain ; 

Thoughts  which  no  human  eye  but  his  may  trace, 

Marred  by  his  hand  and  scattered  to  the  winds, 

Ever  as  they  in  solitude  are  framed. 

At  midnight  now,  when  other  eyes  grow  dim, 

When  brows  that  burned  with  sorrow's  feverish  thoughts, 

Or  reeled  from  sorceries  of  circling  cups, 

When  hearts  that  found  new  life  in  love's  wild  trance, 

Or  died  in  their  neglected  loneliness, 

When  wearied  feet  that  chased  the  flying  morn, 


70  NIAGARA. 

In  the  quick  footsteps  of  the  lengthened  dance, 

Are  laid  to  rest  amid  their  silent  halls, 

He  from  his  lone  retirement  issues  forth, 

To  pace  with  measured  step  th'  accustomed  walk 

Impending  darkly  o'er  the  cataract's  verge, 

While,  with  his  bird-like  flute  or  low  guitar, 

He  plays  some  plaintive  strain,  or  sings  some  lay, 

That  to  the  heedless  winds  and  waters  tell 

The  sorrows  of  his  solitary  soul. 

Oh !  ye  wild  airs  that  charm  the  listening  night, 

What  sentiments  of  grief  do  ye  declare  ! 

Ye  spirit-winds,  ye  hurrying  waters,  stay  ! 

And  give  your  audience  to  his  mournful  tale, 

Oft  by  his  tongue  repeated  in  your  ear ; 

Rehearse  to  me  the  story  of  his  pain, 

And  tell  what  worm  concealed  within  his  heart, 

Preys  ever  on  its  most  harmonious  strings ; 

Hark  !  'tis  his  voice  which  winds  and  waters  bring 

To  teach  the  secret  lessons  of  his  life  : 

"  Oh  !  not  to  me  in  pleasant  places  fall 
The  lines  of  life,  no  goodly  heritage 
Is  mine,  e'en  though  'mid  scenes  magnificent, 
The  crowning  acts  of  Nature's  handiwork, 
I  dwell,  enfranchised  from  the  world  of  man ; 
These  glories  of  the  rock  and  waterfall 
Serve  but  to  show  the  darkness  that  indwells 
My  restless  soul,  prey  to  a  withering  curse  ; 
Or  if  their  sweet  enchantment  lures  my  heart 


NIAGARA  .  71 

One  moment  to  forgetfulness  of  wo, 
Or  fills  the  vacuum  made  by  damning  deeds, 
It  leaves  within,  whene'er  its  charm  has  fled, 
A  thousand  tortures  worse  than  yet  endured, 
So  wide  the  contrast  seems,  so  dread  the  space 
Between  these  works  of  God  and  this  dark  soul ! 

0  voiceful  waters  !  would  that  ye  might  drown 
The  miseries  of  my  spirit,  or  else  wash 

The  stain  of  guilt  from  off  my  rifted  heart ; 
How  like  these  rocks,  worn  by  the  torturing  tide, 
That  heart  lies  hopeless  in  my  shattered  breast ! 

1  dare  not  look  on  man,  his  staring  eye 
Seems  full  of  accusations  to  my  soul, 
And  on  my  brow  he  ever  seems  to  read 
The  curse  of  Cain  imprinted  deeply  there  ! 
A  fugitive  and  vagabond  myself 

I  view  on  earth  'mid  its  most  peopled  walks ; 
The  hand  that  deals  avenging  justice  seems 
Above  me  raised,  yet  never  to  descend, 
Keeping  me-  e'er  in  torturing  suspense  ; 
For  still  I  live,  though  'tis  a  living  death 
I  feel,  to  which  the  horrors  of  the  tomb 
Seem  but  a  lovely  Paradise  of  bliss, 
And  e'en  the  labyrinths  of  the  lost,  a  home 
Almost  Elysian,  for  as  hope  persuades, 
My  soul  shall  meet  and  fellowship  e'en  there 
With  kindred  spirits,  whom  to  dwell  among 
Will  give  companionship  to  my  despair. 
Oh  !  that  the  day  might  perish  wherein  first  *s 


• 
72  NIAGARA. 

I  saw  the  light,  that  God  might  never  smile 

Upon  its  dawn,  nor  sun  bestow  its  beams ; 

That  it  were  darkness  only,  deeper  far 

Than  Memphis  saw  when    plagues  from    Heaven  came 

down ; 

Yea,  that  the  shades  of  death  might  stain  its  brow, 
And  clouds  of  darkness  terrify  its  heart ; 
That  it,  aye  disinherited  of  Time, 
Might  never  join  the  circling  dance  of  years, 
Nor  find  its  place  among  the  numbered  months  ! 
Lo  !  let  that  night  be  solitude  itself, 
Its  twilight  stars  be  drowned  in  darkening  tides, 
Because  for  me  it  oped  the  gates  of  life, 
To  send  me  wandering  over  fields  of  death  ! 
Why  beat  my  heart  against  a  mother's  breast, 
Why  at  its  font  did  I  existence  draw  ? 
Would  that  destruction's  hand  had  quickly  seized 
My  infant  life,  and  cast  it  down  death's  steep  ! 
For  then  in  quiet  rest  I  should  have  slept 
With  kings  and  nobles  of  the  earth,  entombed 
Within  their  lonely  sepulchres  of  pride  ; 
With  princes  who  have  rioted  in  gold, 
And  silvered  o'er  their  palaces  for  nought ; 
Then  as  a  hidden  and  untimely  birth, 
I  should  have  been  a  stranger  to  the  light ; 
There  undisturbed  I  should  have  found  repose, 
Where  from  their  troubling  deeds  the  wicked  cease, 
And  weary  mortals  are  for  e'er  at  rest ; 
Where  captives  chainless  welcome  freedom's  peace, 


NIAGARA.  73 

Deaf  to  the  mandates  of  oppression's  voice ; 

Where  all  in  equal  fate  together  meet, 

The  great  and  small,  the  master  and  the  slave, 

The  learned  and  rude,  the  freer  and  the  freed. 

Ah  !  why  is  death  denied  me  ?     Why  is  light 

Poured  plenteously  around  my  path  of  wo, 

But  to  reveal  its  hideous  forms  to  me, 

And  bring  the  monsters  of  the  past  to  life  ? 

Why  on  the  bitter  soul  is  breath  bestowed, 

That  longs  for  death  as  thirsty  lips  for  brooks, 

Or  misers  delving  earth  for  treasures  hid  ? 

How  blest  a  refuge  seems  the  grave's  low  cell ! 

How  sweet  its  darkness  to  my  soul  akin  ! 

How  enviable  they  who  slumber  there  ! 

But  no !    are  there  not  found  beyond  its  gate 

Severer  woes  than  man  may  suffer  here  ? 

O  Immortality  !  what  to  the  soul 

Of  sin  art  thou  but  double  death  itself? 

With  thee  we  meet  the  records  of  our  guilt, 

That  daze  our  vision  with  accusing  page ! 

The  murdered  form,  the  heart  we  once  betrayed, 

The  law  we  fractured,  and  the  God  we  shunned, 

A  thousand  fingers  of  damnation  point 

At  each  lost  soul,  and  pierce  it  with  their  shafts, 

With  uttered  curses  on  its  wretched  life. 

All  these  on  earth  are  hidden  oft  from  view 

In  their  reality,  or  only  come 

In  apprehension's  grasp  'mid  future  scenes, 

Or  else  in  memory's  retrospect  displayed, 


74  NIAGARA. 

And  this  'mid  all  our  torment  seems  relief; 

But  there,  in  that  futurity  so  sure, 

So  true,  oh  !  there  our  gathered  misery  rolls 

Its  wrecks  upon  us  with  eternal  waves ! 

Upon  my  breast,  like  Atlas,  I  uphold 

A  world  of  wo,  replete  with  countless  sighs  ; 

And  like  the  roar  of  waters,  that  repeat 

My  words,  the  anguish  of  my  soul  resounds ! 

Alas  !  the  doom  that  in  the  visioned  night, 

By  spirit-oracles  proclaimed  to  me, 

Made  my  flesh  quiver  with  excess  of  fear, 

Is  resting  on  me  now  with  grappling  might ! 

0  Night !  O  Darkness  !  O  dread  Cataract ! 
Be  not  amazed  that  I  do  love  you  so  ; 

For  in  your  gloom  and  ever-groaning  life, 

1  find  of  mine  own  self  the  counterpart ! 

In  your  lone  home  and  in  your  dark  embrace, 
I  know  society  that  man  gives  not, 
And  sympathy  of  being  elsewhere  fled. 

0  Sun  !  O  Morning  !  O  refulgent  Noon  ! 
Be  not  amazed  that  I  do  hate  you  so  ; 
For  in  your  light  and  images  of  life, 

1  find  the  dreaded  tokens  of  my  guilt. 

They  come  !  they  come  !  those  heralds  of  the  Past ! 

Still  trumpeting  their  message  in  mine  ear, 

And  holding  up  a  mirror  to  my  mind, 

Where  I  behold  reflected  all  the  train 

That  o'er  my  soul  their  inquisition  hold ; 

Ha  !  there  I  stood  in  academic  halls, 


NIAGARA.  75 

A  new  probationer  for  Learning's  meed, 

'Mid  many  rivals  in  the  hot-brained  strife. 

Why  was  I  there  ?     Was  it  that  Fame's  shrill  voice 

Had  trumpeted  her  summons  to  my  soul, 

Or  that  the  chimes  of  Wisdom  thrilled  its  depths  ? 

Oh  no  !  I  thirsted  not  for  draughts  of  praise, 

Nor  loved  scholastic  shades  and  thoughtful  heights  ! 

Far  sweeter  to  my  soul  was  that  blest  power 

Which  poured  its  music  from  the  one  I  loved, 

One  who  had  bade  me  win  for  her  the  boon 

Of  highest  worth  from  academic  hands, 

The  trophy  of  my  mental  might  to  be 

The  token  of  my  faith,  the  price  of  love  ! 

Oh  Star  of  hope  !  what  spirit  e'er  could  fail 

To  reach  that  goal  when  lighted  by  thy  ray  ? 

Yet  thou  wert  not  so  beautiful,  if  all 

Of  earthly  beauty  be  the  matchless  shapes 

Of  sculptured  forms  or  painter's  ideal  touch  ; 

But  if  it  be  a  spirit  robed  in  light, 

And  born  of  love  with  gentleness  of  mien, 

Then  thou,  Irene,  wert  beauty's  self  indeed. 

Thy  cheek  owned  not  the  deep  carnation-hue 

Of  the  queen-flower  enthroned  'mid  courtier-leaves, 

And  well-armed  thorns  that  form  her  body-guard, 

But  the  sweet  paleness  of  the  twilight  sky, 

Just  as  the  dawn  brings  pencilings  of  day, 

And  ere  it  blushes  into  morning's  prime. 

More  like  the  modest  lily  of  the  vale, 

That  peeps  ofttimes  in  spring  from  its  late  snows, 


76  NIAGARA. 

Hid  'neath  the  shadow  of  its  own  broad  leaves, 
Thou  wert  to  me  in  sweet  retiring  grace. 
Oft  have  I  seen  thee  in  the  moonlight  stand, 
With  face  still  paler  than  her  crescent  brow, 
And  looking  upwards  to  that  virgin  orb, 
Until  she  seemed  to  blush  with  wounded  pride, 
That  one  outrivaling  her  in  whiteness  shone, 
So  fair  the  hue  that  clothed  thy  cheek  and  lip, 
That  wore  the  pensiveness  of  starlit  skies. 
Thus  a  pure  cast  of  thought  was  on  thy  brow, 
That  told  deep  feeling  in  thy  gentle  heart. 
Beneath  that  brow  thy  tender  eyelids  fell, 
Softly  as  snow-flakes  through  the  frozen  air, 
O'er  eyes  in  liquid  lustre  floating  round 
Like  petals  bathed  in  lily-cups  of  dew ; 
And  in  their  beauteous  depths  the  noon  and  night 
Seemed  in  unending  friendship  to  have  leagued, 
So  clear  the  light,  so  deep  the  shade  there  blent, 
Where  Love  alone  could  find  a  welcome  home  ! 
How  from  those  ebon  orbs  bright  flashes  glanced, 
Whose  gleamings  tremulously  shone  on  all, 
Not  like  the  scintillations  of  the  cloud, 
By  flint-like  thunders  struck  with  lightning's  steel 
O'er  skies  electric,  but  like  summer-heats, 
That  glisten  softly  in  the  evening  air ! 
Around  thy  presence  dwelt  enchanting  light, 
That  from  its  centre  scattered  rays  afar, 
Like  daylight's  counterfeit  at  night  uprisen 
In  the  Aurora's  pencilings,  that  paint 


NIAGARA.  77 

And  warm  with  rubric  touch  the  north's  ice-star. 
Thy  locks  were  such  as  earth's  own  brow  displays, 
Whene'er  the  mournful  artist  of  the  year 
Paints  her  green  trees  with  rich  autumnal  brown ; 
Thy  footsteps  fell  on  earth  like  loosened  leaves 
That  chase  each  other  through  the  forest  walks, 
Whene'er  the  voice  of  breezes  bids  them  fly ; 
And  not  the  Nautilus  in  its  fragile  bark, 
Sailed  o'er  the  waters  with  a  lighter  grace, 
Than  moved  thy  virgin  form  'mid  sylvan  shapes. 
Thy  voice  was  gentle  as  the  whisperings  soft 
Of  hollow  shells,  that  to  the  listening  ear 
Repeat  the  treasured  murmur  of  the  sea. 

"  Did  I  not  love  her,  aye  indeed  adore  ? 

Nay,  love,  adore,  are  words  of  common  hearts, 

That  shame  th'  emotions  of  my  gushing  soul. 

I,  to  receive  her  love  in  sweet  return, 

To  grasp  the  fire-light  in  the  radiant  heaven 

Of  her  dark-beaming  eye,  and  call  it  mine, 

Would,  like  Prometheus,  have  been  chained  to  rocks, 

And  joyed  that  vultures  on  my  vitals  fed ; 

Or  like  a  galley-slave  at  oars  of  toil, 

Would  willingly  have  tugged  my  life  away  ; 

For  her  I  would  have  scaled  the  brow  of  Alp, 

And  hurled  his  icy  helmet  to  his  feet, 

E'en  though  his  glacier-touch  had  chilled  my  heart ; 

I  would  have  climbed  Vesuvius  and  looked  down 

Into  its  hell  of  lava,  nay,  have  sought 


78  NIAGARA. 

Its  depths,  could  I  but  then  her  being  claim. 

Oh !  there  was  no  achievement  vast  and  grand, 

For  which  I  was  not  armed  and  energized 

With  stern  resolve  to  be  the  victor  bold, 

Had  she  but  named  the  deed  for  her  own  sake ! 

I  would  have  found  the  Pole's  magnetic  point, 

That  draws  the  needle  as  her  soul  drew  mine  ; 

Traversed  Sahara,  draughtless  and  alone, 

Pierced  the  deep  jungle  to  affright  its  beasts, 

And  braved  the  lion  in  his  very  lair, 

With  weapons  none  save  my  own  stalwart  arms ; 

Belted  the  Ocean  with  my  vessel's  wake, 

To  lay  earth's  treasures  at  her  blessed  feet, 

Or  sought  its  depths,  with  panting  breast,  to  find 

The  brightest  pearls  to  deck  her  lily-brow  ; 

All  this,  aye  more  I  would  have  wrought  in  hope, 

Had  she  but  smiled  on  me  in  fullest  love  ! 

It  was  not  strange  that  then  her  mild  request 

Seemed  but  a  shadow  to  be  cast  by  me, 

Along  her  sunlit  path,  so  light  the  task 

That  she  had  made  the  guerdon  of  her  hand. 

Oh  !  she  was  life  itself  to  me,  the  all 

Of  hope  and  joy,  the  pole-star  in  my  heaven  ! 

And  ever  in  my  heart  and  memory  dwelt 

Her  image,  till  a  part  of  my  own  self 

She  seemed,  bound  with  the  fibres  of  my  soul ; 

And  by  her  ideal  presence  she  became 

My  muse  of  song,  that  filled  my  brain  with  light 

And  images  of  beauty,  for  she  gave 


NIAGARA.  79 

To  me  the  wings  of  free  poetic  thought, 
And  the  full  mastery  of  melodious  rhyme  ; 
Full  many  were  the  lays  I  sang  to  her 
With  the  deep  rapture  of  my  passionate  soul, 
That  found  no  peace  save  in  such  strains  of  love. 

"  But  there  were  bars  like  iron  to  my  hope, 

And  gates  like  brass  that  closed  upon  my  heart ; 

Another  breathed  the  same  sweet  air  with  me, 

And  drank  like  raptures  from  that  magic  cup ; 

In  equal  love  to  her  with  mine  he  strove 

In  equal  strife  with  me  to  win  her  heart. 

In  childhood  we  were  playmates  full  of  glee, 

In  boyhood,  friends  identified  in  soul ; 

He  was  the  cynosure  of  hopeful  eyes, 

That  looked  on  greatness  in  its  infancy, 

And  saw  the  Future  crowning  him  with  bays ; 

For  ever  as  the  morning  came,  or  fell 

The  evening  twilight  at  his  door,  he  oped 

The  treasuries  of  Truth  and  made  them  his. 

Oh  !  it  was  beautiful  indeed  to  see 

His  thoughtful  brow  hang  o'er  th'  instructive  page ; 

And  seldom,  save  when  I  with  boastings  came 

To  taunt  him  roughly  for  his  vain  idlesse, 

And  drag  him  willess  to  the  play-ground's  strife, 

Would  he  desert  the  lore  he  loved  so  well ; 

For  I,  the  bold  antithesis  to  him, 

Found  joy  alone  to  revel  in  the  sport ; 

Yet  when  he  brought  his  spirit  to  the  task, 


80  NIAGARA . 

No  foot  more  fleet,  no  hand  more  sure  than  his, 

Was  seen  'mid  all  that  boyish  crowd ;  e'en  me 

He  vanquished,  one  who  in  his  absence  rose 

The  master-spirit  and  th'  ascendant  star ! 

And  as  in  triumph  he  would  seek  again 

His  lonely  nook  to  dig  historic  ore, 

Our  hearts  went  out  to  him  with  youthful  love, 

He  was  too  noble  to  be  envied,  e'er 

Too  kind  for  hatred,  none  but  could  admire. 

Yet  he  to  me — but  no,  not  he — 'twas  I 

To  him  became  the  bitterest  foe  on  earth, 

Though  my  wild  passion  shrouded  in  my  soul, 

Lay  imperceptible  'neath  friendship's  guise. 

For  he  too  sought  the  goal  in  rival  love, 

To  which  with  eager  hope  I  strained  my  heart. 

"  That  one  beloved — how  curiously  she  strove 
To  hide  the  tumults  of  her  breast  besieged, 
And  check  the  ardor  of  our  vagrant  thoughts! 
How  skillfully  she  kept  us  each  at  bay, 
Nor  told  by  word  or  look  which  was  preferred ! 
'Twas  not  in  girlish  folly  that  she  played 
With  our  fond  hopes,  as  errant  boys  with  hook 
And  line  play  with  the  captive  trout,  oh  no ! 
'Twas  in  her  woman's  pride,  she  longed  to  be 
Participant  of  greatness,  or  to  form 
The  manly  spirit  into  glorious  shapes, 
Or*else  to  deal  in  sweet  benevolence 
With  those  she  pitied,  though  perhaps  not  loved. 


NIAGARA.  81 

So  did  she  tell  him  too,  that  studious  boy, 
To  join  with  me  in  this  all-hopeful  race, 
To  win  the  prize  and  her ;  or  not,  love  all ! 
To  each  she  vowed  that  whichsoever  won 
The  circlet  of  applause,  should  have  her  heart, 
Said  not  that  either  or  that  both  she  loved, 
But  seemed  her  smiles  and  favors  to  divide 
With  an  impartial  feeling  shown  to  each, 
While  her  true  heart  in  unlocked  caskets  lay. 

"  Was  it  not  folly  ?     Did  it  not  then  seem 
Th'  excess  of  madness  to  essay  the  task, 
With  such  a  strong  competitor  as  he  ? 
I  recked  not,  cherished  not  the  hopeless  thought, 
But  for  the  toilsome  war  did  buckle  on 
The  armor  of  the  mind  to  win  or  die ! 
Oh !  'twas  a  contest  deep,  and  fierce,  and  strong, 
Into  whose  breach  I  threw  myself  entire, 
And  saw  no  end  but  victory  itself! 
True,  he  th'  aspirant  for  the  same  proud  height, 
Had  mounted  midway  to  the  destined  point ; 
Yet  this  but  girded  me  with  mightier  power, 
And  made  me  near  his  feet  and  tread  his  heel, 
Until  I  struggled  with  him  side  by  side ! 
Then  what  a  new-found  life  I  breathed ;   what  hope 
Illumed  my  soul,  that  strove  to  pass  him  by ; 
But  he,  like  me,  was  eager  for  the  goal, 
And  kept  me  ever  hand  to  hand  with  him ! 
Still  would  I  nerve  my  spirit  to  the  task,        ; 

5 


82  NIAGARA. 

Whene'er  it  drooped,  or  seemed  to  let  him  gain. 
What  midnight  hours  went  sleepless  by  for  me  ! 
What  morning  radiance  shone  upon  my  page ! 
What  vigor  seemed  through  all  my  nature  spread ! 
What  tireless  efforts  strained  my  burning  brain ! 

"  The  goal !  the  goal ! — at  last  its  point  was  reached  ! 
By  both  at  once  its  long-sought  line  was  trod  ; 
Two  victors  claiming  now  a  single  prize, 
Panted  before  the  umpires  of  the  strife ! 
What  said  they  then  ?     It  was  by  all  declared 
That  each  had  nobly  toiled  and  nobly  won, 
And  they  would  leave  it  to  our  horoscopes 
To  tell  which  victor  should  possess  the  prize, 
That  could  not  doubled  or  divided  be. 

"  O  blest  decision,  yet  O  cursed  one ! 

Blest,  since  it  strengthened  hope  once  more  to  strive, 

Curst,  since  it  left  my  towering  will  undone ! 

How  did  my  quivering  heart  then  wildly  rave 

In  supplications  to  the  power  of  Fate  ! 

I  bade  the  stars  look  kindly  on  my  lot, 

And  prayed  that  Heaven  would  bless  my  destiny  ! 

The  die  was  cast — but  oh — ye  hell-born  sprites, 

Your  fingers  turned  it  to  destroy  my  hope  ! 

'Twas  lost !  'twas  lost !  and  joy  within  me  died  ! 

"  How  like  the  music  of  angelic  strings 
To  the  base  ears  of  demons,  came  to  rne 


NIAGARA.  83 

The  murmur  of  delight  that  rose  from  hearts 

Filled  with  affection  for  the  victor  there  ! 

All  loved  him  well  for  his  sweet  gentle  mien, 

But  me  they  hated  for  my  boldness  rude. 

What  envious  malice  filled  my  bosom  then  ! 

I  broke  away  from  that  soul-crushing  scene, 

Impelled  to  drown  my  misery  in  the  tide ! 

But  fell  Revenge  then  fired  my  hellish  soul 

With  thoughts  of  murder,  not  of  suicide. 

That  night  a  spirit,  e'en  as  though  'twere  sent 

From  Hell's  deep  shades,  sat  on  my  trembling  heart, 

Heavy  it  sat  with  undistinguished  form  ; 

And  with  some  weapon  sharp  it  pierced  my  flesh, 

And  opened  in  my  breast  a  fissure  deep; 

Loudly  it  laughed  as  in  its  fiendish  glee, 

And  slowly  downwards  in  my  bosom  sank 

Through  the  rent  opening  which  its  hand  had  made  ; 

Then  passed  an  unseen  finger  o'er  the  wound, 

And  healed  it  up,  while  spake  a  solemn  voice, 

As  if  it  came  from  halls  of  deepest  gloom  : 

"  '  Idolater !  thou'rt  doomed  !  the  penal  hour 
For  thy  transgression  hurries  on  its  way ; 
Since  all  thy  power  and  love  to  earth  were  given, 
And  none  to  Heaven,  to  which  they  all  belonged. 
Earth  shall  behold  the  anguish  of  thy  soul, 
And  take  the  loved  and  lovely  to  her  arms ; 
The  idol  of  thy  hopes,  whom  thou  hast  lost, 
The  rival  of  thy  love,  thou  shall  destroy ; 


84  NIAGARA. 

Yes,  by  thy  hand  and  word  they  both  shall  fall ! 

He,  that  he  gave  not  glory  to  his  God, 

She,  that  her  artifice  deceived  thy  heart, 

Thou,  thou  destroyer  as  their  victim  wert ; 

Thus  in  thy  deed  is  Heaven  still  justified, 

And  thus  vindictive  Justice  visits  all ! 

Thy  work  is  told,  Idolater,  be  true  ! 

The  Spirit  in  thy  breast,  sent  there  to  dwell, 

Is  the  dark  fiend  of  hate  whose  arm  is  death ! 

Like  a  poor  slave  thy  soul  he  now  must  scourge, 

And  nerve  thine  arm  with  his  destroying  power ! 

Haste,  wretch  !  and  ere  the  morrow's  light  shall  rise 

And  fall  again,  be  all  thy  mission  done, 

Thy  doom  self-sealed,  thy  wretchedness  ensured!' 

"  Blest  light  of  morning  !  never  didst  thou  smile 

On  dungeoned  captives  sweeter  than  on  me, 

When  passed  away  the  gloom  of  that  dread  night ! 

Never  did  prisoner  doomed  to  deafh,  rejoice 

With  deeper  gladness  at  a  slight  reprieve, 

Than  joyed  my  heart  to  see  thy  loving  face  ! 

'Twas  o'er !  a  dream,  a  bastard  of  the  brain, 

A  thing  of  mockery,  a  shape  unreal, 

A  throneless  tyrant  'twas — aye,  but  a  dream  ! 

Yet  did  its  memory  live  to  waken  fear, 

And  make  my  soul  a  battle-field  of  wo, 

As  with  a  master-hand  I  crushed  the  thoughts 

That  in  me  once  had  birth  to  wreak  revenge, 

And  swore  by  all  that  Heaven  or  earth  deems  blest, 


NIAGARA.  85 

Never  to  meet  the  objects  of  my  wo, 

Nor  let  occasion  come  for  desperate  crime. 

But  lo !  while  in  umbrageous  walks  I  roamed 

With  thoughts  like  these,  meridian  moments  passed, 

A  scene,  to  me  of  horror,  yet  in  truth 

Of  love  and  loveliness  to  loving  hearts, 

Oped  on  my  vision  entering  in  my  soul ! 

There,  in  that  lonely  nook,  the  blest  retreat 

Of  boyhood's  days,  where  conned  he  books  of  thought, 

Sat  in  full  bliss  my  hated  enemy ! 

And  by  him  one  whose  heart  seemed  only  his, 

As  on  her  bosom  hung  her  shaded  brow, 

And  round  her  form  his  arm  was  gently  twined ; 

Sweet  words  she  whispered  to  his  raptured  ear, 

When  shown  in  pride  the  tokens  of  success. 

I  heard  her  tell  him  that  from  earliest  hour, 

He  to  her  spirit  was  alone  endeared, 

And  that  she  kept  the  secret  treasure  hid, 

Lest  known  to  him  his  strife  might  be  relaxed, 

And  thus  he  lose  her  by  another  won  ; 

That  me  she  pitied  only  while  she  named 

The  toilsome  task  that  kept  me  still  at  bay, 

Or  left  my  soul  un wounded  for  a  time. 

She  had  not  thought  that  I  could  rival  him, 

Or  gain  the  prize  she  wished  to  see  him  wear ! 

And  he  with  fond  endearments,  blessed  her  then 

For  the  sweet  love  she  had  in  silence  stored. 

They  parted,  she  turned  homeward,  he  to  sport 

In  the  cool  waters  by  familiar  banks. 


86  NIAGARA. 

Oh  !  then  I  felt  the  damning  demon  rise 

Within  my  bosom,  and  assume  his  reign ! 

Did  I  not  battle  fiercely  with  his  power  ? 

Aye  !  but  in  vain,  his  might  o'ermastered  mine ; 

Unseen  I  crept  at  distance  from  my  foe, 

Disrobed  my  form  and  softly  cleaved  the  stream 

Beneath  its  surface,  till  I  saw  his  back 

In  the  dim  tide  turned  towards  my  onward  course  ; 

I  caught  his  arms  and  pinioned  them  behind, 

Then  firmly  held  him  struggling  'neath  the  wave, 

And  while  within  my  grasp,  O,  I  could  see 

The  gurglings  of  his  breath  in  bubbles  rise ! 

Thank  Heaven  !  I  heard  no  groan  escape  his  lips, 

I  did  not  see  his  staring  eye  of  death, 

Else  had  they  driven  to  my  soul  a  spear, 

Whose  barbed  point  had  rankled  in  its  life 

With  keener  pangs  than  those  I  now  endure 

From  myriad  arrows  of  despairing  guilt ! 

I  did  not  think  that  human  eyes  might  see, 

Nor  that  Omniscience  with  his  glance  could  scan 

The  fratricidal  deed ;  so  blind  my  hate, 

So  damned  the  spirit  that  within  me  raved ! 

I  dragged  him  lifeless  to  the  pebbly  bank, 

And  left  him  lying  midway  in  the  stream, 

Then  homeward  turned  to  gloat  upon  my  crime  ! 

Now,  now  I  thought  me,  1  may  win  his  bride, 

And  own  the  heart  thus  coveted  so  long. 

Scarce  had  I  rested  in  my  lonely  room, 

Ere  from  without  I  heard  it  bruited  round, 


NIAGARA.  87 

That  he,  the  dead  one,  was  discovered  there, 

By  some  who  passed,  a  moment  since,  the  spot ; 

Oh !  how  I  rushed  to  learn  if  other  eyes 

Than  mine  had  looked  upon  that  deed  !     But  no ! 

My  bosom  only  kept  the  secret  hid. 

They  went  to  bring  the  lifeless  body  home — 

I  could  not  go— they  thought  for  sorest  grief, 

And  therefore  bade  me  as  his  fellow  loved, 

To  tell  the  maiden  of  that  sad  event ! 

Ha !  ha !  was  it  not  strange  ?     The  sunlight  still 

Lingered  about  her  home  when  I  went  in. 

Could  I  to  her  untremblingly  announce 

My  own  dark  crime  ?     In  truth,  the  Spirit  here 

Pent  up  within  me,  goaded  me  along ! 

I  found  her  singing  in  delightsome  mood, 

Forsooth  with  memories  of  the  sweets  just  culled ; 

I  bade  her  listen,  while  a  doubtful  smile 

Hung  on  her  lips,  but  when  she  saw  how  grave 

I  looked  upon  her,  then  her  paleness  grew 

Paler  than  snows  on  Chimborazo's  broW ; 

*  Thy  love  is  dead !' — My  message  chilled  her  soul ! 

For  motionless  she  stood  in  voiceless  wo, 

Her  blanched  lip  quivered  and  her  eyeballs  glared, 

Her  breast  upheaved  for  utterance,  and  her  frame 

Shook  with  the  terror  of  o'erburdened  grief! 

She  stood  one  moment  thus,  that  seemed  an  age, 

More  like  a  statue  beautifully  carved 

From  purest  marble  of  Pentelicus, 

Than  a  true  shape  of  earth  imbued  with  life ; 


88  NIAGARA. 

Then  on  a  sudden  to  her  temples  rushed 
The  heated  blood  that  told  a  burning  soul, 
And  from  her  lips  disparted,  one  wild  shriek 
Rang  through  the  portals  of  my  heart  most  shrill, 
That  open  left  the  floodgates  of  her  heart, 
Through  which  the  tide  of  wo  was  thus  outpoured : 

" '  I  saw  thee,  fiend,  in  dreams  of  yesternight, 
Shaped  like  a  serpent  with  its  scales  all  green, 
Curling  thy  form  around  his  noble  neck, 
Till  his  sweet  face  with  livid  hues  of  Death, 
Changed  from  its  beauty  into  woful  looks ; 
Deep  in  his  flesh  thy  venom  teeth  were  driven, 
Till  their  swift  poison  curdled  through  his  blood  ; 
Then  as  he  fell,  thy  hated  hiss  I  heard, 
And  the  dull  discord  of  thy  rattle  sprung, 
As  if  thou  wert  thus  laughing  o'er  his  death. 
Then  thou  didst  come,  as  came  thy  sire  of  old 
To  Eden's  bowers,  with  subtle  words  to  woo 
This  heart  of  mine,  as  he  won  cheated  Eve's. 
Oh !  I  had  thought  when  morning's  radiance  came, 
And  poured  its  balm  upon  my  quivering  heart, 
That  'twas  a  phantom  only,  born  in  sleep, 
To  end  its  torments  with  the  waking  hour, 
And  thanked  the  Father  that  its  life  was  o'er? 
But  ah !  curst  miscreant,  thou  hast  given  it  birth, 
And  brought  its  sting  to  torture  me  again ; 
In  thy  dark  look  the  guilty  tale  I  read, 
For  on  thy  brow  the  curse  of  death  is  writ ! 


NIAGARA.  89 

Go!  and  the  blight  of  exile  be  thy  doom, 

An  everlasting  wo  oppress  thy  soul. 

Thou  art  his  murderer  !'  she  shrieked  and  fell ! 

Into  these  arms,  these  murderous  arms  she  fell, 

And  breathed  her  being  from  her  shivered  heart ! 

"  I  turned  away,  and  then,  true  Heaven !  I  saw 
The  sun  just  sinking  with  his  blood-red  disk, 
And  heard  the  echo  of  the  night-dream  sound  ! 
'  Wretch !  now  in  truth  thy  mission  is  all  done, 
Thy  doom  self-sealed,  thy  wretchedness  ensured  ! 
Go  thou  and  be  a  wanderer  o'er  earth, 
A  fugitive,  a  vagabond  in  life, 
And  bear  that  torturing  spirit  in  thy  breast, 
Whose  living  strength  shall  kill  thy  future  peace  !' 

"  O  Night  of  anguish  following  then  that  sun  ! 

0  Darkness  dread,  thou  type  of  Hell's  dark  doom ! 
What  language  e'er  could  tell  thy  horrors  now  ? 
In  thy  dim  realms  fiends  danced  around  my  path, 
Rent  my  sore  flesh  with  sharpened  claws  of  hate, 
And  reveled  madly  through  my  stiffened  hair ; 
Ten  thousand  hands  closed  round  my  quaking  form, 
With  giant  grasp,  and  lifted  me  aloft ; 

Swift  through  the  air  they  hurried  me  away, 
Then  hurled  me  headlong  from  on  high,  to  fall 
In  circles  terrible  on  shivered  rocks ; 
Often  within  the  compass  of  a  point, 

1  felt  myself  compressed,  then  swelling  out 

5* 


90  NIAGARA. 

To  the  dimensions  vast  of  upper  worlds ; 

Down  'mid  the  Ocean  with  my  form  they  sped, 

And  held  me  there  for  seeming  ages  long, 

To  gasp  for  breath,  yet  scarcely  then  to  breathe ; 

There,  on  through  endless  labyrinths  they  rushed, 

Where  caves  terrific  glowered  upon  my  soul, 

And  fierce  sea-monsters  glared  and  growled  in  spite ; 

Till,  rising  thence,  they  left  the  sea's  domain, 

And  dragged  me  up  the  loftiest  mountain-steeps, 

There  to  endure  perennial  Winter's  cold, 

'Mid  deepest  beds  of  everlasting  snows ! 

Swift  thence  they  bore  me  when  it  seemed  that  Time 

Had  swept  his  nameless  cycles  o'er  those  heights, 

Far  to  the  sun-burnt  desert,  through  its  sands 

To  wade  for  centuries  oppressed  with  thirst, 

With  no  green  spot  upon  the  arid  wild, 

Where  springs  and  shades,  whose  life-renewing  power 

Might  quench  my  lip,  or  cool  my  sun-charred  feet, 

Or  re~st  my  fevered  frame  one  moment's  length.' 

Then  through  the  surface  of  the  earth  I  seemed 

Far  downwards  to  be  drawn  with  power  unspent, 

Through  stubborn  soils  and  still  resisting  rocks, 

That  tore  my  vitals  and  my  frame  apart, 

Till  in  earth's  centre  they  were  all  reformed, 

And  cast  into  a  crucible,  'neath  which 

Unending  fires  blazed  fiercely  round  and  round. 

Here  rolled  a  mighty  sea  of  molten  gold, 

Into  whose  currents  ghastly  giants  hurled 

Huge  masses  of  the  precious  ore  to  melt, 


NIAGARA  .  91 

That  as  they  fell  amid  the  seething  tide, 

Sent  myriad  sparks,  with  glow  and  heat  intense, 

Shooting  like  stars  that  course  the  paths  of  Heaven. 

'Mid  this  metallic  sea  I  then  seemed  plunged, 

And  made  to  writhe  in  anguish  undefined ; 

By  fiends  down  driven  to  unmeasured  depths, 

Burning  I  sank  to  struggle  there  in  vain ; 

Then  after  countless  years,  from  that  deep  Hell 

Swiftly  transported  to  the  Arctic  zone — 

Oh  !  horrors  nameless  of  that  dread  extreme ! — 

They  led  me  wandering  wildly  up  and  down 

Its  frozen  sea,  to  brave  fierce  polar  frosts, 

To  climb  o'er  icebergs  crackling  to  their  base, 

Or  sink  beneath  them  03  they  toppled  o'er ; 

Thus  on,  through  varied  series  of  distress, 

In  endless  torments  of  succession  long !  28 

«  O  Night  of  fears  !     O  Sleep  of  Hell's  foretaste ! 

How  could  the  spirit  or  the  flesh  endure 

The  agonies  that  crowded  on  me  then  ? 

Did  I  not  hail  the  morning  ?     No  !  I  shrunk 

From  the  first  day-beam  on  my  chamber  wall, 

For  morning  brought  sad  tidings  of  my  deed, 

With  all  its  woful  images  of  death. 

Did  they  not  come  to  hale  me  to  the  cell  ? 

No !  but  to  entreat  my  presence  at  the  grave, 

As  a  tried  mourner,  for  an  idle  tale 

They  deemed  the  ravings  of  that  prophe£-girl, 

And  said  he  died  from  some  spasmodic  stroke. 


92  NIAGARA. 

Ha !  ha  I  I  went,  I  saw  them  both  in  death, 

Hand  clasped  in  hand  and  side  by  side  reposed, 

All  decked  with  chaplets  of  sweet  blooming  flowers !  *r 

Did  I  not  tremble  o'er  my  victims  then  ? 

No !  the  fell  fiend  with  courage  filled  my  soul ! 

I  saw  them  laid  below, — and  is  it  true  ? 

Aye  true,  I  cast  the  earth  on  them,  when  spoke 

The  voice  '  ashes  to  ashes,  dust  to  dust,3 

Oh !  that  green  sod  closed  all  of  life  for  me  ! 

Away  !  my  home  deserted,  o'er  the  earth  I  roamed, 

Hither  and  yon  where'er  the  dark  fiend  drove, 

And  thus  for  years  have  roamed,  to  pass  each  night, 

When  sleep  comes  o'er  me,  in  these  torturing  dreams, 

Or  in  a  lingering  wakefulness,  as  now, 

Till  morning  brings  the  stories  of  the  Past. 

Here,  here  at  last  one  little  drop  of  rest 

Falls  on  my  parching  soul  to  ease  its  thirst, 

For  in  these  sombre  regions  waked  at  night, 

I  seem  to  have  a  respite  from  my  rack, 

Filling  my  vision  with  stupendous  forms, 

That  drive  usurping  images  away, 

And  drowning  voices,  full  of  thrilling  notes-, 

In  the  deep  echoes  of  the  falling  tide. 

But  ho !  the  midnight  fails  me,  and  the  morn 

Scatters  his  radiant  seed  o'er  fields  of  space  ; 

Alas !  the  sun  comes  up,  and  brings  again 

Those  shapes  of  piercing  agony  to  me  ; 

1  see  them  all — the  strife,  the  prize,  the  lot, 

The  wood,  the  stream,  the  bank,  the  dead,  the  grave  ? 


NIAGARA.  93 

Oh  !  misery  unending,  shall  mine  be 

In  yon  futurity  a  darker  lot  ? 

What  if  I  add  to  twofold  murder  now 

The  guilt  of  suicide  ?     Will  it  enhance 

The  anguish  of  my  soul  ?     It  scarce  can  be  f 

For  now  it  seems  as  if  th'  eternal  Mind 

Could  not  devise  worse  torments  for  the  damned, 

In  other  worlds,  than  those  I  now  endure. 

Yet  hath  he  not  resources  infinite 

Wherewith  to  chain  the  spirit  down  in  Hell  ? 

Ah !  when  I've  grown  familiar  with  my  pain, 

And  almost  hugged  my  tortures  to  my  heart, 

With  love  for  them  which  habit  generates, 

Have  I  not  found  a  new-born  torture  sweep 

Its  painful  fingers  o'er  my  heart's  strained  chords  ? 

Is  not  the  soul  with  such  capacity 

Endowed,  of  full  extent,  as  makes  it  fit 

To  bear  the  most  o'erwhelming  miseries, 

Uncrushed  and  unannihilated  still, 

Such  as  we  dream  not  of  nor  tongue  can  speak  1 

Aye  !  we  shall  find  it  thus  in  future  worlds  ! 

Yet  seek  I  death  despite  its  coming  ills. 

Oft  has  the  fiend  with  curses  urged  me  on, 

To  cease  my  being  in  yon  angry  tide, 

But  dark  forebodings  make  me  linger  yet ', 

E'en  now  he  whispers  in  mine  ear  the  hope 

'  'Twill  be,  at  least,  a  change  from  state  to  state, 

That  of  itself  may  bring  a  moment's  ease, 

While  thou,  curst  sufferer,  mak'st  thy  passage  hence, 


94  NIAGARA. 

E'en  though  thou  passest  to  severer  wo.' 
I  grasp  the  hope,  though  like  a  spider's  web, 
And  scorning  life,  explore  the  dark  unknown ; 
Hence  Earth  !  come  Hell !  I  woo  this  dread  abyss  !" 

Gone !  fated  man,  thou  Hermit  of  the  Fall ! 
Lost  in  the  eddies  of  thy  chosen  home ; 
Gone  to  the  future  with  remorseful  soul, 
To  live  forever  in  the  halls  of  pain  ! 
Thou'st  shared  the  meed  of  thine  idolatry, 
And  meet'st  the  penalty  of  murderous  hands ! 

Thus  doomed  are  all  that  love  thee  not,  O  God ! 
Thus  wretched  they  who  make  the  world  their  hope ! 

Yet  lonely  man !  not  such  for  aught  we  know 

Was  thy  mysterious  life  ;  nor  e'en  thy  death 

Welcomed  so  fearfully.     The  Poet  dreamed 

These  thoughts  of  thee,  and  from  them  weaved  a  tale, 

Instead  of  one  thy  silence  left  untold, 

To  warn  th'  unwary  from  the  paths  of  crime. 

Thine  only  sin,  learned  from  thy  sojourn  here, 

Was  fleeing  from  the  fellowship  of  man, 

And  hiding  gifts  that  might  have  blessed  his  heart. 

O  wondrous  Water-course  !  O  Torrent  swift ! 

Thy  leap  like  his  down  those  dread  depths  makes  thee 

A  suicide  perpetual,  yet  alive, 

A  self  destroyer,  self-rebuilder  both ! 


NIAGARA.  95 

How  beauteously  dost  thou  display  the  love 

And  might  of  Him  who  laid  his  own  life  down, 

And  took  it  up  again,  by  inward  right ; 

Whose  death  was  life,  whose  form  when  disinterred, 

Shone  with  effulgence  far  surprassing  thine  ! 

Oh  !  when  upon  that  orient  hill  of  blood, 

The  One,  anointed  with  the  ire  of  Heaven, 

To  be  for  man  an  interceding  Priest, 

Poured  out  his  soul  in  groanings  more  heart-felt, 

His  life  in  purer  currents  far  than  thine, 

Didst  thou  not  hear  his  filial  cry  of  wo, 

That  spoke  abandonment  in  every  tone, 

And  to  the  world  repeat  the  direful  tale  ? 

Didst  thou  not  gather  from  the  veins  of  earth, 

A  few  blest  drops  of  that  o'erflowing  tide, 

Wherewith  to  wash  thy  brow  looked  on  by  sin  ? 

Or  else  didst  thou  not  also  weep  in  love, 

With  sympathy  for  Him,  that  Heart  divine, 

Who  wept  in  love  and  sympathy  for  man  ? 

O  great  Apostle  !  tell  us  how  he  bled, 

Tell  how  he  agonized  in  death's  extreme, 

And  yet  forgave  the  plunderers  of  His  life ! 

Tell  how  the  chasmed  earth  gaped  wide  its  mouth, 

And  groaned  despair  with  sickened  heart  for  Him, 

Disgorging  from  her  entrails  sainted  forms, 

That  walked  her  breast  the  spectres  of  an  hour, 

And  welcomed  in  their  grave's  habiliments 

Sad-hearted  friends,  that  sorrowed  then  in  fright : 

Didst  thou  not  mingle  with  her  deep-drawn  sigh, 


96  NIAGARA. 

The  doleful  wailings  of  thy  hollow  chest, 

Telling  Creation  how  o'erfull  of  grief 

Were  all  material  things,  that  only  thus, 

Man  might  renew  his  spiritual  strength  ; 

And  when  that  Life  divine  leaped  o'er  the  verge 

Of  Death  and  Hell,  and  from  their  deepest  tide, 

(Jnwhelmed,  unsepulchred,  and  incorrupt, 

Arose  victorious  o'er  the  grave  and  sin, 

Did  not  thy  music  then  repeat  the  strains 

Of  choirs  angelic  with  their  anthemed  praise, 

As  passing  up  and  down  from  heaven  to  earth, 

And  earth  to  heaven,  they  joyfully  proclaimed 

To  myriad  spirits,  eager  for  the  tale, 

The  work  completed  and  redemption  won  ? 

Or  didst  thou  not  in  Hell's  dark  dungeon  hear 

The  deep  hoarse  bellowings  of  demons  damned, 

That  grated  grievously  upon  thine  ear  ? 

Demons,  that  tossing  with  malignant  spite, 

Because  man  thus  might  flee  their  endless  doom, 

Or  groaning  in  despair  that  they  were  bound 

In  everlasting  chains  for  judgment  held, 

With  no  redeeming  gate  for  them  to  pass, 

Sought  to  exclude  him  by  temptation's  might 

From  the  sweet  fellowship  of  spirits  pure. 

Oh !  what  unnumbered  scenes  both  blest  and  curst, 

What  voices  unrepeated  save  by  thee, 

Hast  thou,  old  Wanderer,  ofttimes  viewed  and  heard  ! 

How  full  of  privilege  thy  years  have  passed, 

How  full  of  anguish  has  thy  heart  been  filled  ! 


NIAGARA.  97 

Thus  art  thou  typical  of  man's  strange  life, 
Replete  with  light  and  shade,  with  joy  and  grief. 

Prophet  of  good,  what  tidings  glad  are  thine  ! 

Like  a  blest  angel,  to  the  shepherds  sent 

With  song  of  "  Peace  on  earth,  good- will  to  men !" 

Or  the  Baptizer  clothed  with  camel's  hair, 

And  fed  on  honey  in  the  wilderness, 

Dost  thou  lift  up  thy  herald  voice  to  man, 

And  tell'st  the  nations  of  the  Day-star's  rise, 

Whose  hopeful  beams  in  visitings  to  earth, 

Announce  the  advent  of  immortal  joys, 

And  warm  the  spirit  sepulchred  in  sin ! 

Cry,  Voice  of  blessing  !  bid  the  world  prepare 

The  ways  of  God  and  make  His  paths  all  straight, 

For  yonder  comes  the  Lamb  that  takes  away, 

With  mercy-flowing  blood,  the  sin  of  souls ! 

How  sweetly  to  the  stainless  conscience  shines 

The  morn's  new  light,  uprising  as  from  death  ! 

The  heart  and  life  that  own  a  holy  God, 

Need  not  the  darkness  to  conceal  their  ways ; 

Now  like  a  maiden's  fingers  tracing  lines 

Of  gorgeous  hues  upon  the  lily  page, 

Or  stringing  threads  of  rich  embroidery 

Upon  the  silver  canvas  in  her  lap, 

Comes  up  the  dawn  with  garb  of  light  arrayed ; 

O'er  the  soft  sky  her  pencil  gently  moves, 

Paints  smiles  of  day  where  gloomed  the  cloud's  dark  frown, 


98  NIAGARA  . 

And  drinks  fresh  dew-drops  from  the  cups  of  flowers. 

All  Nature's  home  to  her  a  studio  seems, 

Where  mixing  colors  in  assortment  gay, 

She  fills  the  groundwork  of  Creation's  frame, 

With  the  lost  fragrance  of  the  former  days, 

As  painter-hands  with  freshening  colors  limn, 

In  soft  re-touchings,  some  old  portrait-face, 

Until  the  faded  features  all  appear 

A  picture  new  with  lineaments  of  life, 

That  bring  the  memory  of  departed  looks. 

How  like  a  lion  with  his  shaggy  main, 

Leaving  his  lair  and  shaking  off  its  damps, 

The  Sun  comes  forth !     He  seems  in  pride  to  plant 

His  mighty  paw  upon  the  edge  of  earth, 

And  leap  in  strength  along  his  skyey  home, 

Thence  to  descend,  hurrying  in  hungry  haste 

To  close  his  burning  claws  upon  his  prey. 

Sprinkled  like  sands  of  gold  in  southern  streams, 

The  parted  beams  as  children  at  their  play, 

Peep  through  the  interstices  of  the  leaves ; 

While  o'er  the  flood  the  full  broad  rays  descend, 

And  move  like  dancers  on  a  gilded  floor, 

As  from  the  orchestra  of  waters  rise 

The  strains  to  which  their  twinkling  feet  keep  time. 

Such,  like  the  earth  new-lighted,  is  the  world 
Of  human  hearts,  when  Genius'  hallowed  fire 
Brightens  our  hopes  with  sentimenls  of  love. 


NIAGARA.  99 

How  like  the  rise  of  Genius  is  the  day 

That  moves  untrammelled  through  the  dusk  of  night, 

Nor  loses  aught  of  radiance  from  its  touch  ! 

Oh  !  is  there  not  unconquered  might  in  mind, 

In  gifted  mind,  to  whom  the  task  is  given 

To  grasp  the  light  of  Heaven  and  make  it  man's  ? 

Is  there  not  certain  triumph  to  its  toils, 

A  meed  of  glory  for  its  spirit  scathed, 

A  zenith-home  where  it  may  ever  shine, 

A  voice  of  plaudit  for  its  mission  done, 

Its  holy  mission,  full  of  truth  and  love  ? 

Genius !  hast  thou  that  sacred  talisman, 
The  secret  proof  of  greatness  yet  untold, 
The  blest  refractions  of  the  spirit's  light 
Through  this  dim  atmosphere  of  life,  that  shines 
Ere  yet  its  sun  has  reached  th'  horizon's  bound  ? 
Oh !  keep  it  guarded  well,  yet  keep  it  hid, 
Lock  it  within  the  casket  of  thy  soul, 
Nor  let  its  light  in  straggling  rays  be  seen, 
But  feed  the  lamp  in  secret  with  the  oil 
Of  truth  and  love,  of  faith  and  hope,  till  men 
Shall  need  its  warmth,  then  lift  the  darkening  veil, 
And  beam  on  men,  a  man,  a  godlike  man ! 

E'en  though  thy  struggling  heart  shall  tell  thee  oft 

That  thou  wert  only  made  for  lofty  things, 

For  truth  and  freedom,  not  alone  for  fame, 

Nor  earth's  enticements  'mid  her  grovelling  shapes, 


100  NIAGARA. 

Yet  hush  thy  lip,  chain  down  thine  anxious  pulse, 

And  drink  unbowed  the  dregs  of  common  life, 

Until  thy  power  hath  grown  to  manhood's  strength ; 

Bring  not  thy  candle  forth,  whose  beams  the  blaze 

Of  some  strong  spirit's  noon-day  light  shall  pale, 

Nor  when  the  damps  of  earthly  gain  surround 

All  human  hearts,  to  chill  thy  soul  and  quench 

Its  rapturous  fire;  nor  when  the  stormy  rage 

Of  passion  sweeps  the  bloom  of  life  away ; 

But  in  the  deep  hushed  darkness  of  the  world, 

When  suns  have  set  and  stars  are  hid,  when  hearts 

Begin  to  yearn  for  truth,  for  love,  for  hope, 

For  liberty ;  when  strong  thy  light  hath  grown, 

Oh !  let  it  burst  effulgent  on  the  souls 

Of  men,  and  wake  them  up  from  sleep  to  see 

A  new  day  dawning  for  the  deathless  mind  ! 

Hope  on !  if  God  hath  made  thee  inward  great, 

Thine  outward  lot  most  surely  he  will  shape, 

And  thou  shalt  have  a  goodly  heritage 

As  thine  amid  the  garden-homes  of  life. 

Though  now  strong  hands  of  Poverty  and  Hate 

Erect  their  rocky  fortress  at  thy  side, 

Though  Care's  fierce  myrmidons  press  hard  behind, 

And  deepest  seas  of  trouble  roll  before, 

Yet  faint  thou  not,  God  made  thee  to  be  great ! 

When  first  Creation,  in  majestic  might, 
Marched  to  its  station  fixed  in  boundless  space, 
God  said,  "  Let  there  be  light,  arid  there  was  light," 


NIAGARA.  101 

So  shalt  thou  move  in  dignity  of  soul, 

To  hold  the  birthright  of  immortal  mind. 

And  tread  the  way  of  Heaven  with  quenchless  light, 

Which  God  shall  bring  forth  from  thy  burning  heart. 

Aye  !  He  will  crush  with  hand  omnipotent, 

Those  frowning  battlements,  and  through  the  sea 

Will  cleave  a  pathway  for  thy  feet,  and  ope 

A  channel  for  the  currents  of  thy  soul, 

That  crowd  with  such  unnumbered  hosts  of  thought, 

While  hellish  foes,  still  following  in  thy  steps, 

Shall  sink  o'erwhelmed  beneath  thy  rushing  tide. 

Say,  in  the  midnight  of  thy  hidden  soul, 

Come  there  not  dawnings  of  the  vivid  day, 

When  each  shall  see  thy  gifted  spirit  robed, 

In  sentiments  of  Truth  now  unrevealed  ? 

When  bitter  thoughts  break  o'er  thy  burdened  breast, 

As  roll  the  billows  o'er  the  rocky  beach, 

Is  there  not  still  a  bosom  undefied  ? 

Hast  thou  not  still  the  bold  unconquered  heart  ? 

Though  friends  may  smile  and  turn  away  in  scorn, 

Call  thee  enthusiast  at  thy  prophecies, 

And  bid  thee  plod  with  them  their  earthward  course, 

Foes  may  deride  and  madness  call  thy  hope, 

Yet  still  thy  calm  unbending  will  shall  sway 

Each  power  within,  and  give  it  strength  to  rise. 

The  stern  resolve  to  battle  with  the  worst, 

To  scorn  the  servitude  of  outward  things, 

To  rise  supreme  with  majesty  of  soul, 


102  NIAGARA. 

Above  the  petty  tide  of  human  ills, 

Will  sit  enthroned  the  ruler  of  the  heart ! 

Have  faith  in  Truth  !  believe,  O  soul  of  fire  ! 
That  life's  realities,  be  they  of  worlds 
Which  form  Creation  or  receive  its  gaze, 
Of  things  that  live  in  yon  eternal  Mind,  j 
Or  cluster  here  within  the  finite  man, 
Shall  meet  their  destiny  triumphant  all, 
And  hear  each  shout  their  paean  song  of  joy  ! 

Have  faith  in  Freedom  !  know  full  well,  O  heart ! 
That  the  great  God  hath  made  his  creatures  free, 
And  none  can  change  what  he  has  thus  decreed, 
Though  Time  may  threaten  and  the  car  move  slow 
That  bears  the  traveller  to  his  destined  home. 
Aye  !  though  man  put  his  fetters  on  the  wrist, 
He  cannot  chain  the  indomitable  will, 
He  cannot  scourge  the  spirit,  nor  prevent 
Its  soarings  upwards  as  on  eagles'  wings ; 
He  cannot  make  the  free-born  live  the  slave, 
When  death  has  given  it  life  and  unwalled  homes 
To  dwell  amid,  in  Freedom's  future  worlds ! 

Have  faith  in  Love  !  know  that  the  loving  soul, 
Though  scarred  and  blasted  by  its  fellows'  shafts, 
Shall  stand  at  last  beloved  and  crowned  by  earth, 
Who  then  shall  weep  to  view  thy  many  wounds 
Her  hand  unkind  inflicted,  when  to  bless 


NIAGARA.  103 

Her  children,  thou  didst  bare  thy  dauntless  breast, 
And  bore  her  strokes  with  fortitude  unbowed. 
Oh !  thou  shalt  have  thy  blessed  meed  of  love 
From  every  heart  below  that  hears  thy  name, 
And  more  than  all  from  Love's  own  heart  on  high  ! 

Have  faith  in  God !  believe  His  promise  sure ; 

His  word  is  graven  on  thy  prophet-soul, 

Which  tells  thee  that  thy  seeds  of  truth  and  hope, 

Sown  in  the  hearts  of  all,  shall  bear  their  fruit 

Unnumbered  as  the  stars  or  Ocean's  sands. 

Doth  not  all  outward  Nature  that  declares 

His  might  and  glory  in  the  firmament, 

And  on  the  broad  expanse  of  earth,  display 

To  man  His  truth  and  faithfulness  in  all 

The  blest  successions  of  her  ordered  steps  ? 

Nay  more,  doth  she  not  in  His  word  revealed, 

Of  all  her  life  the  correlation  find  ? 

So  learn,  O  soul,  that  in  symmetric  power, 

Thou  shalt  move  forth  to  glorify  thy  God, 

And  in  His  greatness  magnify  thyself! 

Learn  that  ere  long  between  thy  heart  and  life, 

And  every  sentiment  and  circumstance 

Of  inward  being  and  of  outward  lot, 

A  correspondence  true  thou  wilt  perceive, 

To  show  thee  placed  on  worth's  high  pedestal, 

And  mark  thy  name  a  favored  son  of  God ! 

Herald  of  day  !  again  hast  thou  announced 


104  NIAGARA  . 

The  birth  of  light,  and  rung  the  call  to  prayer, 

As  loud  from  Moslem  minaret  and  mosque, 

The  lone  muezzin  flings  his  shrill-toned  voice, 

To  tell  the  devotee  'tis  time  to  kneel. 

Here,  blessed  Teacher !  from  my  reverie  roused, 

I  hear  thy  summons,  and  obey  thy  call 

With  purer  faith,  and  heart  more  worshipful, 

Than  his  who  knows  no  God  but  self  and  sense. 

In  spirit  and  in  truth  I  worship  Him, 

Who  is  the  Spirit  and  the  Life  of  all, 

And  thus  address  Him  with  o'erflowing  soul : 

"  Father  of  love  !  to  me  how  much  endeared, 
Not  for  the  blessings  only  on  me  showered, 
Though  these  from  me  claim  gratitude  unspent, 
But  for  the  chastisements  oft  deemed  severe, 
Whereby  my  spirit  hath  been  trained  to  good  ; 
Yet  most  of  all  for  those  bright  views,  revealed 
To  my  dark  soul,  by  Heaven's  immortal  light. 
Oh  !  hadst  thou  left  me  in  the  bitter  gall, 
And  tyrant  bonds  of  sin,  hadst  thou  not  snatched 
My  soul,  a  burning  brand,  from  fires  of  Hell, 
Hadst  thou  not  hewn  me  from  the  rock  of  death, 
And  dug  me  from  the  pit  of  wo,  while  lost, 
And  sinning  blindly  oft  against  thy  law ; 
Hadst  thou  not  lifted  me  from  miry  clay, 
And  placed  my  feet  upon  thy  rock  of  strength, 
I  ne'er  had  roamed  in  pastures  of  thy  love, 
Nor  slept  on  banks  where  Joy's  still  waters  flow ; 


N  I  A  G  A.  R  A  .  105 

No!  I  had  trod  the  pathway  of  the  damned, 
And  found  my  spirit  thralled  in  chains  of  grief. 
Oh  !  for  that  love  which  thus  commends  itself, 
E'en  though  its  objects  all  are  meritless, 
I  praise  thee,  Lord  of  Heaven,  with  all  my  soul ! 
Ye  rocks  and  hills,  ye  sounding  waterfalls, 
Join  in  the  chorus  of  my  heart- felt  praise ! 
Praise  Him,  ye  angels,  ye  celestial  hosts ! 
Praise  Him,  thou  sun  at  morn,  thou  moon  at  eve ! 
Ye  stars  of  light,  ye  heavens  of  heavens  above ! 
Ye  rolling  clouds,  that  journey  near  his  throne ! 
Praise  Him  all  earth,  ye  dragon-forms,  ye  deeps ! 
Let  fire  and  hail,  let  snow  and  vapor  praise ! 
Ye  mountains,  and  all  hills,  ye  fruitful  trees ! 
Ye  verdant  cedars,  prowling  beasts  and  herds ! 
Ye  creeping  things,  and  birds  of  every  wing  ! 
Kings  of  the  earth  ;  ye  who  their  subjects  are  ! 
Princes  and  judges ;  men  of  might  and  mind  ! 
Young  men  and  maidens,  children  and  old  men ! 
Praise  ye  the  King  of  Kings  whose  name  is  Love ! 
Praise  Him  upon  the  timbrel  and  the  harp  ! 
Praise  Him  with  sound  of  psaltery  and  trump, 
With  organ  and  with  instruments  of  strings  ! 
Praise  Him  upon  the  cymbals  sounding  high ! 
Praise  Him  the  most  with  voices  from  the  heart ! 28 
Praise  God  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost ! 
Worthy  is  He,  and  ever  to  be  praised. 
For  He  is  good,  His  mercy  lives  for  aye, 
Therefore  my  soul  doth  magnify  the  Lord, 


106  NIAGARA, 

My  spirit  glories  in  my  Saviour — God  f 

He  hath  redeemed  me  from  the  grasp  of  Hell, 

Prepared  a  bounteous  table  'mid  my  foes, 

Anointed  me  with  joy,  instead  of  grief; 

For  a  sad  spirit,  gave  me  robes  of  praise ; 

My  cup  to  overflowing  He  has  filled  ; 

His  goodness  and  His  mercy  follow  me, 

And  in  His  temple  I  may  ever  dwell : 

He  always  watches  o'er  my  troublous  path, 

My  sleep  defenceless,  and  my  waking  sweet ; 

Canst  thou  not  praise  Him  ?     Oh  !  behold  His  work, 

Here  wrought  for  man  to  typify  Himself; 

Hast  thou  no  heart  to  love  ?     Oh !  see  His  love 

In  all  Creation's  and  Redemption's  plans, 

And  then  love  Him  because  he  first  loved  you. 

Great  Father !  hear ;  give  now  the  unchanged  heart, 

Which  beats  beneath  the  eye  that  scans  this  page, 

The  changing  influence  of  thy  Spirit  blest, 

That  it  may  know  the  adoration  sweet, 

Which  fills  thy  child  in  thy  loved  presence  bowed, 

That  it  may  feel  the  rapture  which  inspires 

The  humble  soul  to  chant  this  hymn  to  thee." 

The  Sun  is  up !  his  manhood's  strength  renewed  ; 
His  zenith-home  now  occupied  again ; 
How  swift  his  rays  come  vertically  down ! 
How  hotly  shoot  his  burning  arrows  now  ! 
The  panting  bird  her  leafy  shelter  seeks ; 
The  sweltering  herds  stand  in  the  cooling  tide, 


NIAGARA.  107 

Beneath  the  arches  of  umbrageous  rocks, 

Or  in  the  shadows  of  the  clustering  trees ; 

The  young  grass  droops,  the  wild  flowers  swooning  fall, 

All  Nature  faints  in  this  o'erburdening  heat. 

Come,  sacerdotal  Flood  !  lift  up  thy  voice, 

And  at  the  altar  of  thy  Deity, 

Invoke  His  power  to  send  His  minion  clouds, 

And  bring  the  tides,  poured  from  thy  hollow  hand, 

Back  to  the  earth,  and  fill  her  fonts  again ; 

The  Flood  obeys,  and  calls  upon  his  God : 

"  O  Thou,  who  canst  by  Thine  all-conquering  might 

Into  deep  stillness  hush  tumultuous  waves, 

Or  bid  the  foaming  billows  higher  roll ! 

Thou,  at  whose  word  the  morn  and  evening  sing, 

In  their  outgoings,  of  thy  tokens  blest ! 

Thou  who  dost  visit  earth,  that  it  may  drink 

The  water  of  the  rain  of  Heaven,  and  live 

To  spring  with  verdure  and  to  yield  its  fruit ; 

Thou  who  dost  lave  the  ridges  of  the  land, 

And  settlest  all  the  furrows,  making  soft 

The  soil  with  showers  until  it  starts  in  life ! 

Thou  who  distillest  early  dews  on  earth, 

And  sendest  snows  to  clothe  the  tender  grain ! 

Come  with  thy  streams  to  wet  the  withered  herb, 

That  earth,  well-watered,  may  bring  forth  and  bud, 

To  give  the  sower  seed,  the  eater  bread ; 

Unseal  thy  fountains,  at  whose  flowing  tides 

The  thirsty  lip  may  drink  renewing  life ; 


108  NIAGARA. 

Pour  from  thy  reservoirs,  O  God  of  Floods ! 
Thy  streams  profuse,  and  make  the  vales  rejoice, 
Till  pastures  fertilized  by  thee  shall  bloom, 
And  hills  look  up  with  still  more  verdant  crowns." 

Thy  prayer  is  answered,  Interceder  strong ! 
For  yonder  come  the  heralds  of  the  storm ; 
The  deep  monotony  of  thunder  rolls 
Through  far-off  arches  of  the  templed  sky, 
In  echoes  to  thy  voice,  and  say,  "  We  come !" 
The  glistening  lightnings  seem  to  glass  thy  form 
In  their  firm  grasp,  concentrating  the  light 
Thou  didst  reflect  in  day-beams  from  their  eye ; 
The  lower  air  now  moves  in  blackened  shapes, 
That  rise  as  if  from  furnaces  of  smoke ; 
And  down  the  showery  cataracls  descend 
To  swell  thy  waters— O  illustrious  Flood  ! 
Earth  drinks  new  life,  and  Nature  breathes  again  ; 
The  flowers  look  up  in  tears  of  gratitude, 
With  opened  mouths  t'  inhale  the  freshened  breeze ; 
The  low  grass  bends  beneath  the  rattling  drops, 
And  with  the  winds  in  whispered  laughter  breathes. 
How  pure,  how  sweet,  how  fresh  the  moistened  air ! 
How  new  and  beautiful  each  shape  of  life ! 
How  changed  the  scene  in  one  short  busy  hour, 
From  grief  to  gladness,  from  decay  to  growth  ! 
Thus  do  the  storms  of  disappointment  keen. 
And  deep  affliction  purify  the  heart, 
And  vivify  the  over-heated  soul, 


NIAGARA.  109 

When  like  the  earth,  the  flowers,  the  grass,  the  trees, 
We  meekly  bend  and  bear  their  chastening  strokes ; 
For  present  sorrows  but  a  moment  live, 
And  leave  behind  an  after-life  of  joy. 

Poet  of  Nature  f     Minstrel  of  the  floods  ! 

O  mighty  Bard  !  how  matchless  is  thy  verse ! 

What  paeans  full  of  triumph  dost  thou  hymn ! 

What  magic  lines  of  beauty  dost  thou  trace 

Here  on  th'  undying  tablet  of  my  soul ! 

How  ever  varied  is  the  rhythm  sweet 

Of  thine  unceasing  song !     The  ripple  oft 

Astray  along  thy  banks  a  lyric  is 

Of  love ;  the  cool  drops  trickling  down  thy  sides 

Are  gentle  sonnets ;  and  thy  lesser  falls 

Are  strains  elegiac,  that  sadly  sound 

A  monody  of  grief;  thy  whirlpool  fierce, 

A  shrill-toned  battle-song ;  thy  river's  rush 

A  strain  heroic  with  its  couplet-rhymes ; 

Thy  rocks  and  trees,  thy  floods  and  floating  isles, 

Thy  caverns  dark,  a  rich  dramatic  scene ; 

While  the  full  sweep  of  thy  close-crowded  tide 

Resounds  supreme  o'er  all,  an  epic  grand, 

Written  in  bold  pentameters  unrhymed ! 

Oh  !  that  for  human  ears  I  might  like  thee 

Pour  forth  a  most  enchanting  tide  of  song ! 

Thou  rapt  Musician  I  by  thine  own  sweet  song 
Entranced  so  deeply,  that  all  other  strings 

**'     V 


110  NIAGARA. 

Of  earthly  instruments  by  thee  unheard, 
Are  vainly  struck  within  the  circle  wide 
Of  thy  rich  voice,  itself  a  melody  ! 
How  tame  to  me  are  human  symphonies, 
When  in  mine  ear  thy  concert-strains  resound  ! 
How  like  some  oratorio  grand  art  thou, 
Born  of  a  gifted  soul,  and  well  performed 
By  gifted  hand  and  voice,  with  varied  parts 
Of  stately  overture  and  prelude  sweet, 
Of  soft  duets,  with  solos,  trios,  chants, 
And  hallelujahs  loud  of  chorus-bands, 
That  lift  the  ravfthed  heart  away  from  earth, 
And  lose  it  in  forgetfulness  of  Time ! 

Here  from  this  Table-rock  let  me  step  down 29 
The  rough  descent,  and  with  a  reverence  meet, 
Pass  inward  where  a  secret  Presence  dwells, 
And  penetrate  his  solitude's  recess. 
0  solemn  Tabernacle  of  the  Flood ! 
This  is  the  Holiest  of  thy  holy  place, 
Where  undisturbed,  save  by  intruding  man, 
Who  comes,  Creation's  priest,  to  minister 
Within  the  veil  before  jthy  sacred  ark, 
The  God  of  floods  his  awful  chamber  fills ! 
Spirit  of  life !  beneath  me  lay  thine  hand, 
And  stay  my  soul  in  this  oppressive  hour ! 
My  heart  within  its  ribbed  enth raiment  swells, 
In  adoration,  dread,  and  wonderment ; 
With  its  repeated  strokes  it  seems  to  drive 


NIAGARA.  Ill 

My  'frighted  breath  from  out  its  bosom-cells ! 
O  thou  creative  Power !  on  me  breathe  now, 
And  keep  the  fountain  of  my  life  supplied ! 
Above,  yon  arch  seems  ever  coming  down, 
Yon  rock  still  moving,  yet  for  aye  unmoved, 
Yon  tide  descending  vertically,  oft 
To  strike  with  death  the  sacrilegious  head, 
Yet  curving  grandly  in  unvarying  course, 
As  if  it  were  a  giant's  arm  bent  round 
Its  dwarfish  subjects  to  protect  their  life ! 
As  when  from  Egypt's  tyranny  escaped 
The  sons  of  Israel,  and  through  severed  waves 
Passed  on  in  crowds  unnumbered,  to  possess 
The  land  of  promise,  flowing  with  earth's  gifts, 
While  night  and  day  led  onward  in  their  march 
By  clouds  and  fiery  pillars  from  their  God, 
So  do  ye  seem,  ye  ever-journeying  floods ! 


Dread  Genius  of  the  Fall !  whose  towering  form 
Dwells  in  this  rocky  fortress,  still  unsealed, 
Never  to  fall  before  besieging  foes, 
Save  when  Creation  shall  itself  decay  ; 
How  like  the  Nazarite,  with  locks  unshorn, 
And  heavenly  strength  still  inexhaustible, 
Above  thee  dost  thou  stretch  thy  lusty  arms, 
And  hold  the  flood-gates  of  thy  currents  up, 
As  he,  with  might  unparalleled  in  man, 
Upon  his  back  the  gates  of  Gaza  bore. 


llii  NIAGARA. 

Here  in  this  area,  'twixt  the  flood  and  rock7 

I  seem  to  stand  in  legislative  halls 

And  senate  chambers,  where  constituent  fonts 

Have  by  united  suffrage  hither  sent 

Their  representatives  from  distant  states ; 

I  hear  the  murmur  of  polemic  strife, 

The  war  of  tongues  that  seek  the  mastery  ; 

And  blended  in  confusion,  see  the  looks- 

And  actions  that  in  turn  display  too  oft 

Zeal  hypocritic,  or  true  patriot  love ; 

I  mark  the  windings  of  politic  art, 

Th'  unbending  spirit  of  the  statesman  bold, 

Or  orator  with  eloquence  of  truth, 

The  varying  movements  of  the  partisan, 

Th'  obedience  cringing  of  the  sycophant. 

Swarming  the  portals  for  the  nation's  spoils ; 

All  this  I  see  in  this  apartment  dim, 

And  hear  in  deafening  torrents  still  unchecked, 

Where  unmoved  rocks  and  changing  eddies  are, 

Where  countless  drops  and  heavy  tides  crowd  round. 

O  Hall  of  Wisdom  !  what  instruction  here 
May  man  receive  to  know  himself  and  God ! 
What  lessons  may  be  printed  on  his  soul, 
Like  images  of  life  on  fossil'  rocks ! 
Endless  thy  teachings,  O  Preceptor,  are  I 
Forth  from  thy  lips,  whose  utterance  ceases  not, 
Blest  sentiments  of  truth  and  goodness  sound  ! 
Oh  !  in  the  tracings  of  thy  fingers  here, 


NIAGARA.  113 

Graved  on  the  rock  as  with  an  iron  pen, 
We  read  the  language  of  Divinity ! 
Who  dares  refuse  the  homage  thou  dost  claim 
From  every  heart  to  Him  who  built  thy  home  ? 
Or  who  may  speak  denial  to  thy  words, 
That  tell  in  tones  oracular,  "  GOD  is  ?" 

Skeptic  !  approach,  with  reverential  awe, 
And  in  this  book  of  many  pages  read 
The  truthful  lines  recording  Deity, 
Till  thou  in  fear  shalt  say,  "  THERE  is  A  GOD  !" 
In  answering  echo  to  the  Flood's  discourse ; 
Or  else  denying,  prove  thyself  insane, 
Earth's  libel-form,  humanity's  disgrace  ! 
Tell  me,  as  on  this  streaming  rock  we  stand, 
And  look  above  at  yon  o'erhanging  verge, 
Who  holds  it  up  that  it  descendeth  not ; 
To  crush  us  into  atoms  with  its  flood  ? 
Who  stays  those  earth-bound  waters  back,  whose  mass 
Presses  with  might  on  these  uncrumbled  walls, 
Like  steeds  unbridled  with  confusion  wild, 
Rushing  in  hordes  along  some  sandy  plain  ? 
Who  e'en  as  with  his  own  unmeasured  hand 
Within  the  tide,  now  reaches  down  th'  abyss, 
As  if  he  were,  in  his  protecting  love, 
Encircling  us  with  everlasting  arms  ? 
Go !  if  thou  canst  not  own  and  worship  Him, 
And  ostracize  thyself  from  all  the  world, 
Nor  claim  as  thine  the  brotherhood  of  man ! 

6* 


114  N  I  AGA  K  A  . 

Go !  for  the  rapt  adorer  of  His  name 
Beholds  His  image  blotted  from  thy  soul, 
If  thou  dost  not  in  yonder  tide  perceive 
That  image  glassed  as  shining  out  from  thee ! 
Hear,  unbeliever !  hear  the  glorious  hymn, 
Whose  cadence  now  from  yonder  praising  Flood, 
Thus  rises  upwards  with  its  incense-mist  : 

"  O  mighty  Architect  of  Nature's  home  ! 

God  of  Creation,  of  the  earth  and  sea, 

Of  stars  that  wane,  the  signals  of  the  morn, 

Of  bird  and  beast  and  every  living  thing, 

Of  man  and  angel,  thy  most  perfect  works, 

Displaying  all  thine  ever-varied  powers ! 

Hear,  thou  great  Master-builder  of  all  life ! 

I  lift  my  voice  in  thankfulness  to  Thee ! 

Of  old,  in  Time's  beginning,  thou  didst  move 

Upon  the  slumbering  floods^,  that  then  awoke 

And  left  the  arms  paternal,  and  the  home 

Of  Chaos  dark,  to  flow  at  thy  command, 

And  make  their  journey  o'er  the  formless  earth  ; 

Then  thou,  dread  King !  didst  stretch  thy  sceptre  out, 

And  into  being  speak  the  orbless  light ! 

Didst  weave,  with  stellar  threads,  the  firmament 

Of  heaven,  and  made  it  separate  the  floods ; 

With  thy  strong  falchion  thou  didst  cleave  the  rock, 

And  hew  the  pathway  for  my  liquid  feet. 

Then  first  of  all  thy  works,  yea,  ere  was  heard 

The  young  stars'  song  in  morning-prime  of  earth, 


NIAG-ARA.  115 

I  hailed  thee  Sovereign  of  the  Universe, 

And  praised 'thy  might,  O  thou  most  wondrous  God ! 

Then  at  each  great  achievement  of  thy  hand, 

I  rolled  my  anthem  up  with  louder  voice ! 

When  earth  bloomed  freshly  with  the  tender  grass, 

When  herb  and  fruit  from  bud  and  flower  were  born, 

I  echoed  thy  deep  voice  that  spake  '  'tis  good !' 

I  saw  the  light  hung  round  thy  far-off  throne, 

As  signs  to  measure  out  the  day  and  night. 

Full  brightly  shone  their  footsteps,  as  they  moved 

Each  to  its  sphere,  and  left  behind  in  space 

Their  lustrous  trails,  like  countless  threads  of  light. 

On  my  unwearied  vision  long  have  smiled 

Orion,  named  of  old  the  scorpion's  heart, 

Arcturus,  bending  o'er  the  northern  pole, 

The  Pleiades,  whose  unbound  influence  falls 

With  the  sweet  breathings  of  each  waking  spring, 

That  ne'er  lament  one  from  their  circle  flown. 30 

The  milky  way,  whose  galaxy  so  bright, 

Woven  by  stellar  fingers  from  the  sun, 

Belts  the  wide  sky  e'en  like  the  rainbow's  curve, 

And  all  the  constellated  worlds  that  sweep 

In  long  battalions  through  yon  camps  of  light ! 

I  have  seen  thee,  O  King !  before  them  pass, 

Their  great  Commander,  making  thy  review, 

To  number  each  and  call  them  all  by  name, 

While  round  thee  moved  a  brilliant  retinue, 

In  all  the  colors  of  th'  Aurora's  rays, 

And  from  thy  mouth  a  trumpet-blast  was  pealed, 


116  NIAGARA. 

In  the  sharp  echoes  of  the  thunder's  voice. 

Then  have  I  shouted  hallelujahs  loud, 

In  answer  to  the  melody  of  spheres, 

That  measured  well  their  simultaneous  tread, 

As  armies  march  with  their  symphonious  bands. 

I  saw  the  sun  at  earth's  first  morning  rise, 

E'en  as  a  bridegroom  from  his  chamber  comes, 

All  redolent  with  love  and  beauty  new, 

And  following  in  his  steps,  beheld  his  bride 

Attended  faithfully  by  maiden-stars, 

Stand  in  his  home  with  sweet  adornments  robed ; 

I  heard  the  voice  of  Nature  animate, 

In  varied  strains,  repeat  thy  worthy  praise ; 

The  song  of  birds  at  morn,  at  noon,  at  eve, 

The  cricket's  chirp,  the  buzz  of  insect-wings, 

The  low  of  herds,  the  neigh  of  uncurbed  steeds, 

In  one  loud  chorus  mingling  with  my  voice, 

Went  up  to  thee,  thou  Father  of  them  all ! 

Nor  less  harmonious  was  the  voice  of  man, 

Who  in  his  purity  then  sang  of  thee 

With  gratitude  unchecked  for  thy  sweet  gifts, 

Of  which,  all  blest,  by  far  the  most  of  all 

Was  woman's  love  and  woman's  sympathy ; 

Alas  !  that  she,  o'ercome  by  tempting  art, 

Should  then  have  sinned,  and  made  man  share  her  wo  ! 

Happy  for  her  that  now  she  lives  to  be 

A  comforter  to  soothe  the  pain  she  caused ! 

Vet,  blest  Preserver !  with  the  fall  of  man 

Thou  didst  not  change  this  my  unvarying  tide, 


NIAGARA.  117 

But  left  me  thus  an  emblem  to  his  heart, 
Of  thine  unchanging  purity  and  love, 
Of  cleansing  streams  that  were  from  thee  to  flow, 
And  make  his  nature  what  it  was  before. 
O'er  my  moist  brow  thou  didst  the  arch  extend 
In  whose  bright  hues  were  written  words  of  hope, 
When  backward  to  their  dwelling  thou  didst  drive 
The  loosened  floods,  for  which  were  built  anew 
The  broken  fountains  of  the  troubled  deep. 
O  Parent  of  the  floods !  how  great  thy  love 
Has  shown  itself  to  erring  man  and  me  ; 
He,  ever  falling,  may  like  me  arise  ; 
He,  ever  dying,  make  like  me  still  live. 
Strange  revolutions  of  the  world  I've  seen, 
Nations  new-born,  grown  gray  and  perished  all ; 
Others,  upon  their  ruins  built,  in  pride 
To  live,  and  die  like  them  the  curst  of  Time. 
Here  in  this  land  what  wondrous  changes  seem 
To  chase  each  other  o'er  the  fields  of  life  ! 
The  savage  hordes  that  once  in  wonder  lost 
Looked  on  my  form,  and  heard  my  voiceful  rush, 
That  bowed  to  me  as  to  a  God,  while  I  31 
Bowed  down  to  thee,  thou  true  and  only  One, 
Have  passed  away  like  music  from  the  lip, 
Whose  memory  leaves  a  sadness  in  the  heart. 
A  new  race  build  their  dwellings  round  me  now, 
And  voices  sweet  of  Liberty  and  Truth 
Blend  with  the  cadence  of  my  endless  song. 
Author  of  peace  !  Giver  of  Freedom's  boon  I 


118  NIAGARA. 

Thou  didst  dry  up  the  tides  of  civil  war 

That  stained  my  waters,  and  didst  make  th'  oppressed 

And  the  oppressor  each  his  "  brother  "  call. 

O  thou  blest  Power  !  I  thank  thee,  while  I  am 

The  link  that  binds  the  Present  and  the  Past, 

A  kingdom  and  republic,  man  to  man, 

That  never  in  my  tide  one  drop  flows  down, 

Once  having  laved  the  shores  where  Error  rules, 

Or  base-born  servitude  enthralls  the  man  ; 

Oh !  come  the  days  when  every  stream  and  fall 

Shall  sing  with  me  of  universal  love, 

Of  earthly  peace  and  human  liberty  ! 

And  never  may  the  despot's  chain  henceforth 

Cross  my  free  tide,  or  bind  my  stubborn  rocks  ; 

With  this  last  prayer,  thou  ever  blessed  One ! 

While  rivers  flow  or  fountains  bubble  up, 

My  voice  shall  ever  sound,  its  hope  shall  be 

The  theme  of  my  deep  song,  whene'er  that  voice 

Is  not  employed  in  praise  direct  to  thee, 

Till  peace  and  freedom,  truth  and  love  prevail, 

And  nought  but  praise  shall  Nature  offer  up 

To  Thee  most  worthy,  infinitely  great !" 

If  Nature  spoke  with  voice  articulate, 
Not  more  expressly  could  she  tell  to  man, 
His  full  subjection  'neath  a  sway  divine, 
Than  now  she  teaches  by  the  prophet  tongue 
Of  these  loud  waters  eloquent  of  God  ! 
O  Revelator !  with  thy  heaven-sent  voice 


NI  ACrA  K  A  .  119 


And  plenal  inspiration  ever  filled, 

Must  we  not  call  thy  word  and  mission  true, 

Since  by  the  mien  of  thine  impressive  form, 

Wherewith  thou  dost  subdue  the  heart  of  man, 

By  the  achievements  vast  of  thy  strong  hand, 

By  all  thy  heart-deep  earnestness  of  voice, 

Thou  dost  declare  a  parentage  divine, 

Miraculously  born,  and  taught,  and  helped  ! 

What  if  the  braggart  soul  its  weakness  prove 

In  falsifying  thine  illustrious  birth, 

And  making  thee  th'  unlawful  child  of  Chance, 

Of  Fate  or  Matter's  strong  affinities  ? 

I  own  a  God,  the  Father  of  us  all, 

I  hail  thee,  elder  brother,  from  that  Sire, 

And  thus  relate  myself  to  Him  and  thee. 

Sweet  to  my  soul  has  been  the  task  to  weave 
This  chain  of  verse,  and  lay  it  at  thy  feet ; 
But  now,  Magician  !  with  thy  jeweled  wand, 
And  many  shapes,  of  every  life  the  type, 
My  rhapsody  of  thee  at  last  must  end, 
As  end  all  raptures  to  the  heart  most  dear, 
In  the  sad  music  of  the  word  "  Farewell." 
Yet  ere  I  go,  one  lingering  strain  I  sound 
Of  thy  depart  from  life,  like  mine  from  thee, 
And  then  my  lengthened  strain  of  thee  must  end. 

Ah  !  with  the  death  of  Time  thy  roar  shall  cease  ; 
When  earth  becomes  her  own  funereal  pile, 


120  NIAGARA. 

When  she  shall  seem  to  gazing  worlds  above 

A  distant  flame,  e'en  such  as  she  beholds, 

When  stars  athwart  her  dark  meridian  shoot, 

Or  comets  sweep  the  pavement  of  the  sky  ; 

The  thirsty  flame  shall  quaff  the  ocean's  cup, 

And  turn  on  thee  despite  thy  threatening  voice, 

On  thee,  the  first  and  last  of  Nature's  streams, 

The  outlet  of  her  heart,  and  drink  thee  up, 

Till  Nature,  like  a  voiceless  Niobe, 

Having  no  victim  left  beside  herself, 

Shall  give  her  life  with  thee  the  last  to  yield  ! 

Then  shalt  thou  sing  the  death-fraught  dirge  of  all 

Material  forms  in  unison  with  thine  own  ,* 

And  thus  thy  wandering  notes  shall  journey  through 

That  earless  void,  that  chaos  echoless : 

"  O  Parent  of  the  centuries  gone  by  ! 
Lost  in  the  whirlpool  of  destructive  tides, 
And  never  from  their  sepulchres  all  sealed 
To  find  their  resurreption  into  life, 
Till  angel-fingers  break  the  bond  of  death, 
And  bring  its  forms  renewed  before  God's  seat — 
Though  the  rapt  Memory  shall  their  image  paint 
On  the  soft  canvas  of  the  human  heart — 
Father  of  years !     Birth-giver  of  the  hours  ! 
At  last  in  death  thy  tears,  O  childless  Time  ! 
Must  mingle  now  with  my  life-ceasing  tides. 
With  thee,  begotten  in  the  infancy 
Of  this  Creation,  from  Jehovah's  hand, 


NIAGARA.  121 

I  joyed  to  sound  the  birth-note  of  the  world  ; 
With  thee,  through  eras  changing  with  man's  life, 
'Mid  the  wild  whirl  of  nations  and  their  fall, 
'Mid  the  hoarse  shouts  and  de-vastating  strokes 
Of  deluge-hands,  and  horror-breeding  storms, 
'Mid  deep  convulsions  of  the  writhing  earth, 
And  vast  achievements  of  th'  eternal  Mind, 
I  have  rolled  on  with  thee,  thou  aged  One  ! 
Filled  with  the  stories  of  the  buried  Past ; 
And  now,  Destroyer,  now,  O  Teacher  stern  ! 
Thou  Conqueror-of  life  !  with  thee  I  fall ! 
Ourselves  the  conquered,  and  destroyed,  and  taught ! 
Aye,  taught !  for  lessons  long  by  us  unlearned, 
Ne'er  in  the  book  of  our  experience  writ, 
Are  now  impressed  upon  our  failing  hearts  ! 

"  I  saw  the  Angel  of  thy  doom  descend 

From  heavenly  portals,  in  bright  clouds  attired ; 

Upon  his  brow  a  rainbow's  circle  shone, 

His  lovely  face  refulgent  as  the  sun, 

His  feet,  like  fiery  pillars,  measureless, 

Moved  o'er  earth's  marl,  that  smoked  along  his  path, 

And  shook  with  trembling  fear  down  to  her  heart ; 

The  Heavens  bowed  reverently,  as  he  came  down, 

And  Darkness  crouched  in  terror  at  his  feet ; 

Upon  a  cherub-steed  he  distanced  worlds, 

And  flew  on  pinions  of  the  uncaught  winds; 

The  midnight  spread  above  a  tented  roof; 

The  waters  dark  and  clouded  skies  were  wove 


122  NIAGARA. 

In  one  by  spirit-hands  and  looms  unseen, 

To  form  the  wide  pavilion  for  his  rest ; 

While  at  the  brightness  pioneering  him, 

Thick  clouds  shrunk  coward-like  to  the  caves  of  space 

His  hand  shot  arrowy  lightnings  out  o'er  earth, 

Till  the  deep  channels  of  her  waters,  cleaved 

To  their  far  depths,  oped  widely  to  his  eye, 

As  erst  to  Israel's  children,  journeying  through, 

Appeared  the  Red  Sea's  bed  between  its  waves. 

At  his  great  voice  the  hills  and  mountains  quaked, 

And  showed  the  earth's  foundations  far  below ; 

The  book  of  Time's  dread  sentence,  opened  wide, 

Was  in  his  hand,  and  with  majestic  step 

He  moved  the  Messenger  of  God,  and  laid 

His  right  foot  on  the  sea,  the  left  on  land, 

Then  cried  aloud,  as  when  the  lion  roars, 

While  seven  deep  thunders  echoed  thus  his  voice  : 82 

"  '  By  that  great  One  the  Infinite  o'er  all, 

Whose  being  is  Eternity  itself, 

Who,  with  His  arm  alone,  created  earth, 

And  all  things  that  possess  existence  here, 

I  swear ! — oh  hear,  thou  universe,  the  oath  ! — 

I  swear  that  Time  shall  live  and  reign  no  more  ! 

For  soon  these  suns,  these  moons,  these  stars  of  light, 

That  are  the  hearts  and  pulses  of  his  life, 

This  earth,  whose  silent  revolutions  trace 

Upon  his  dial-plate  the  steps  he  takes, 

These  times  and  seasons,  that  are  but  his  breath, 


NIAGARA 


Shall  Ruin  bury  in  the  tomb  of  space, 

And  Chaos  o'er  them  roll  his  Dead  Sea's  wave  !' 


"  Scarce  had  he  spoke,  when  lo !  the  heavens  were  rent, 

And  through  their  portals,  opened  far  above, 

A  throne  of  white  stood  pendent  from  its  height ; 

Of  white,  not  such  as  mountain-tops  of  snow, 

Or  foaming  waves. of  Ocean's  crest  display, 

But  like  the  daze  of  molten  metals,  pale 

With  glow  of  heat  intense  in  furnace  vast, 

And  on  that  throne  sat  one  whose  form  untraced, 

And  undistinguished,  though  still  dimly  viewed 

In  the  rich  hues  of  jasper  and  sardine, 

Was  other  none  than  Deity  himself! 

Circling  his  brow  a  rainbow  emerald-like 

Crowned  him  with  radiance  from  celestial  suns ; 

Around  the  throne,  on  four  and  twenty  seats, 

Thus  many  elders  sat  in  garments  white, 

With  coronets  of  gold  .upon  their  heads  ; 

Out  of  that  throne  swift-lightning  glances  came, 

With  thunder-tones  of  voices  cymbal-like  ; 

Before  its  face  lamps  seven  of  fire  burned  high, 

The  spirits  emanant  of  Deity ! 

Below  it  rolled  a  crystal  sea  of  glass, 

Molten  beneath  the  light  reflected  thence  ; 

And  guardian  beasts,  with  myriad  eyes  unshut, 

That  with  the  elders  rest  not  from  their  cry, 

'  O  HOLY,  HOLY,  HOLY  LORD,  ALMIGHTY  GOD.' 


121  NIAGARA. 

"  I  saw  the  dead,  both  small  and  great,  uprise 

From  sea-caves  deep  and  peopled  catacombs, 

From  mausoleums  vast  and  mummied  aisles, 

From  dim  sepulchral  halls  and  earthquake  chasms, 

From  lava-tombs  and  marble  monuments, 

From  desert  sand-heaps  and  from  leafy  shades, 

From  Memphian  pyramids  and  Indian  mounds, 

From  ashy  urns  and  fireless  funeral  piles, 

From  icy  grottoes  and  cemented  vaults, 

From  hillocks  high  and  lowly  grass-grown  graves, 

From  bloodied  battle-field  and  sea-washed  beach, 

From  all  the  burial  places  of  the  earth ; 

From  damning  shades,  where  grim  despair  has  rule, 

And  everlasting  chains  of  darkness  bind 

The  wretched  spirit  self-exiled  from  day ; 

From  plains  ethereal  where  perfected  hope 

Is  lost  in  love,  and  humble  faith  in  sight ; 

From  worlds  of  joy  that  spin  their  glittering  web, 

And  spangle  it  with  dew-like  drops  of  light, 

From  all  the  regions  of  existence  far, — 

I  saw  them  feome  and  stand  before  the  throne, 

Where  books  were  opened,  whose  recorded  page 

Gave  histories  of  every  life  that  was. 

At  this  tribunal  high  were  all  arraigned, 

The  faithful  spirits  pure  in  loyalty, 

The  renegades,  that  forged  their  own  damned  chains, 

The  unbelieving  and  believing  soul ; 

Each  heard  his  story  read,  his  life  revealed, 

His  meed  awarded,  or  his  sentence  passed, 


NIAGARA.  125 

His  portion  rendered  in  the  lake  of  fire, 

Or  in  eternal  mansions  of  delight ; 

Yet  ere  the  doom  was  sealed,  or  joy  proclaimed, 

The  fiat  fixing  every  destiny, 

Uttered  in  ears  that  trembled  or  were  glad, 

I  saw — O  sight  transcendently  sublime  ! 

I  saw  all  solar  worlds  move  from  their  spheres, 

And  leave  each  orbit  then  untrod,  t'  ascend 

The  steep  aerial,  and  their  halos  form 

In  wide  concentric  circles  o'er  the  throne, 

While  in  the  midst  of  their  circumferent  ranks, 

The  Sun  himself,  though  with  a  paling  disk, 

In  the  keen  whiteness  of  that  Light  divine, 

Stood  still  above  the  fiery  throne  of  God  ! 

Oh  !  how  majestic  was  their  heavenward  march  ! 

As  if  an  army  on  celestial  plains 

Shone  with  reflecting  cuirasses  of  steel, 

With  helmets  bright,  and  breast-plates  all  begemmed 

With  twinkling  spears  and  golden -hilted  swords, 

With  furbished  javelins  and  coats  of  mail, 

Glistering  with  thousand  scales  of  polished  brass, 

With  cross-like  halberds,  framed  of  straightened  shafts, 

With  burnished  shields  in  armory  entire  ! 

Then  as  they  moved,  the  trampings  of  their  feet 

Made  measured  music  for  the  Universe  ; 

And  loud  their  rushings  through  the  upper  air, 

Seemed  like  the  echo  of  their  morning  song  I 

What  awful  stillness  locked  the  doors  of  sound, 

And  manacled  the  many  forms  of  space, 


126  NIAGARA. 

When  at  their  rendezvous  all  met,  they  stood 

In  circling  ranks,  in  van,  in  rear,  in  flank, 

To  wait  obedient  their  Commander's  word ! 

How  anxiously  did  that  expectant  throng 

List  to  the  utterance  of  God's  awful  voice ! 

As  with  unimitated  tones,  supreme 

And  uncompared  with  aught,  it  rolled  along 

A  sea  of  deafening  sound  enunciate, 

Down  through  the  intervals  of  gathered  worlds, 

In  words  terrific  to  the  sin-bound  soul, 

But  sweetly  welcome  to  the  holy  heart : 

'  Come  saints,  and  dwell  in  my  celestial  halls ! 

Hence  fiends,  and  writhe  in  everlasting  chains ! 

Go  worlds,  and  consummate  your  task  of  death  ! 

Creation  now  her  travailing  life  must  end  ! ' 

"  Loud  from  those  myriad  lips  of  life  ring  out, 

Like  blasts  from  silver  clarions  numberless, 

The  melodies  of  joy  that  float  along, 

Born  of  the  heart,  through  vistas  deep  of  space, 

In  airy  undulations,  reaching  far, 

Like  the  soft  ripple's  chimes  o'er  breathless  lakes, 

Disturbed  by  pebbles,  to  the  distant  shore. 

Oh !  never  since  Creation  breathed  were  strains 

More  thrilling,  or  were  song  more  rapt  and  blest ! 

No  !  not  e'en  when  the  new-born  morning  stars 

With  their  young  music  filled  the  ear  of  Time ; 

Nor  when  the  voice  of  promise  echoed  hope 

In  man's  void  heart  then  sepulchred  in  sin ; 


NIAGARA.  127 

Nor  when  the  prophet  tongue  revealed  to  earth 

The  lustrous  pictures  of  millennial  times  ; 

Nor  when  th'  ethereal  heralds  turned  the  view 

To  visits  of  the  Day-spring  from  on  high  ; 

Nor  when  rejoicing  angels  strung  anew 

Their  harps  and  sang  the  sinner's  new-born  faith  ; 

Nor  when  the  scheme  of  saving  blood  was  formed, 

Or  stood  perfected  in  proportions  fair ; 

No !  never  erst  like  this  did  music  peal 

O'er  broad  savannas  of  the  Universe  ; 

For  angels  approbated,  saints  redeemed, 

And  venerable  elders  round  the  throne, 

Ten  thousand  times  ten  thousand  of  each  tongue, 

Thousands  of  thousands  from  all  tribes  of  life, 

Sang  '  Worthy  is  the  Lamb,  the  Lamb  once  slain ; 

Let  blessing,  honor,  praise  and  power  be  his, 

Who  sits  for  ever  on  the  throne  of  Heaven  !' 

"  But  oh  !  what  dissonance,  like  earthquake  shocks, 
Follows  the  footsteps  of  that  harmony, 
And  treads  malignantly  upon  its  heel ! 
'Twould  seem  that  all  the  spirits  hurled  to  hell, 
Stunned  by  the  dread  concussion  of  their  doom, 
Had  stood  awhile  in  dumb  amazement  lost, 
While  through  the  arch  of  sound  rejoicings  rung, 
Like  the  sweet  airs  that  pioneer  the  storm, 
Or  tell  the  fierce  volcano's  fiery  burst ; 
Now  from  their  bosoms,  as  from  craters  deep, 
Boiling  with  flame,  they  belch  their  lava-hate, 


128  NIAGARA. 

To  roll  destructive  down  the  airy  steep, 
And  whelm  the  melodies  that  ring  below ; 
So  curst  their  ire,  so  envious  their  despair, 
So  damned  their  spite  and  rancor  fierce  uprose. 

"  Now  clashing  like  the  arms  of  serried  hosts, 

With  brazen  cymbals,  full  of  clangous  sound, 

And  scimetars  of  steel,  that  flash  with  sparks, 

The  worlds  above  meet  close  in  martial  strife, 

As  when  Within  some  land  united  long, 

Fell  civil  discord  fires  its  people's  hearts 

To  hurtle  ruin  on  each  other's  heads. 

In  wild  confusion  on  they  rush  to  death, 

With  flaming  wrath  and  self-destroying  siege. 

Earth  mingles  in  the  war,  and  swells  the  din ; 

O'er  her  vast  breast  it  seems  as  if  she  were 

A  sacrificial  victim,  slain  and  burned 

Upon  the  altar  of  the  Universe, 

Whose  incense  mounts  to  empyrean  thrones, 

For  on  her  fall  sharp  lambent  tongues  of  fire, 

And  meteoric  rocks  from  distance  hurled, 

Roll  down  her  hills  and  o'er  her  wide  champaigns, 

With  flames  that  avalanche-like  sweep  along  ; 

The  lofty  mounts  that  pillared  up  the  skies, 

With  glaciers  crowned,  and  wreaths  of  bleaching  snows, 

Are  heated  columns,  down  whose  hissing  sides 

Roll  swift  resistless  tides  of  melted  ice, 

That  in  the  valleys  as  in  caldrons  boil ; 

O'er  northern  shores,  whose  bulwarks  strong  were  built 


NIAGARA.  129 

Of  massive  icebergs,  frozen  year  by  year, 
The  torrent  heat  flows  with  consuming  might, 
Before  whose  blasts  each  polar  fortress  falls ; 
Deep  in  the  boiling  sea  its  monsters  writhe, 
And  prey  upon  each  other  in  their  pain  ; 
They  howl  despairing  through  the  caverned  depths, 
Or  toss  tormented  on  the  surface  hot, 
From  which  the  steams  in  columned  clouds  arise  ; 
From  the  vast  crucible,  that  heated  stands 
Within  the  laboratory  of  the  earth, 
Tides  fathomless  of  metal-fire  flow  up, 
And  through  volcanic  doors  and  fissured  rocks, 
Rush  with  impetuous  speed  and  loud  report, 
All  life's  opposing  ranks  to  level  down, 
As  if  from  Nature's  ordnance  shot  o'er  earth ; 
The  forest  trees  that  towered  so  long  in  pride, 
The  regal  masters  of  the  soil  their  throne, 
Now  with  the  conflagration  crackle  down, 
And  burn  like  fagots  at  earth's  martyr-stake ; 
The  fierce  wild  beasts,  that  sought  their  lairs  at  first, 
With  hope  t'  escape,  in  those  cool  refuge-haunts, 
The  singeing  breath  of  ever-journeying  flames, 
Now  meet  in  friendship  with  their  former  foes, 
As  need  and  danger  drown  all  mutual  hate 
In  dark  oblivion,  asking  sympathy ; 
They  tread  the  burning  plain,  the  embers  hot, 
To  seek  accustomed  fountains  long  since  dried, 
Till,  in  their  maddening  thirst,  with  bowlings  wild, 
At  last  they  turn  and  drink  each  other's  blood. 
7 


130  NIAGARA. 

Ye  streams  that  laved  my  ever-thirsting  Kpsf 

Ye  lakes  that  poured  your  treasures  in  my  lap  ! 

Thou  sea  returning  of  my  waters  loaned  ! 

Where  are  ye  all  ?     My  life's  loved  currents  fail ! 

I  feel  the  steps  inflammable  approach  ! 

My  rocky  banks  crack  to  their  lowest  base ! 

The  islands  anchored  near  rush  o'er  my  verge  I 

Death's  fever  rages  in  my  heated  brow, 

And  turns  to  vapor  damps  that  linger  there  f 

Few  drops  remain,  and  they,  too  hissing  hot, 

Pass  o'er  the  reddened  precipice  in  mist ! 

My  rock-brain  reels,  I  totter  down  th'  abyss ! 

O  Time  !  O  Nature  !  with  your  Cataract, 

All  sink  to  perish  in  one  grave  of  fire ! 

My  voice  grows  feeble ;  I  but  whisper  now  f 

Thou  great  Creator,  when  thou  form'st  anew 

The  earth  and  heavens  where  righteousness  shall  dwell, 

Pour  out  my  tide  once  more  to  sing  of  Thee ! 

Till  then,  O  Time  !  O  Nature  !  fare  ye  well !" 

Thou  Waterfall !  in  that  new  land  made  pure, 
In  bliss  beyond  my  heart's  best  wish,  I  hope 
To  hear  the  echoes  of  thy  hymn  again. 
But  now  I  sound  the  song  of  my  depart ; — 
Farewell,  blest  Muse,  whose  full-inspiring  power 
Hath  swept  the  chords  long  silent  in  my  soul, 
And  waked  the  strains  that  are  but  echoes  faint 
Of  thine  unrivaled  music,  which  to  mine 
Seems  like  the  harpings  of  the  swelling  sea 


NIAGARA.  131 

To  the  still  breathings  of  its  humblest  shell ; 

Farewell,  Enchanter,  thou  hast  bound  my  heart 

By  the  strong  withes  of  thine  all-conquering  love. 

And  shorn  me  of  self-glory,  leaving  me 

Humble  and  weak  in  thy  Philistine  power ; 

For  never  more  may  I  in  pride  uprise, 

And  deem  myself  aught  slave  a  helpless  thing, 

In  memory  of  thy  majestic  mien  ; 

Oh  !  it  was  sweet  upon  thy  lap  to  rest, 

To  look  upon  thy  beauty  and  adore, 

To  hear  the  harmony  of  thy  loved  voice, 

And  feel  the  dalliance  of  thy  spray-hand's  touch. 

Farewell !  as  oft  from  woman's  look  I've  turned. 

Presuming  not  t'  aspire  and  share  her  bliss, 

With  a  soul  longing  for  requited  love, 

Yet  far  too  proud  to  bear  rejected  suit, 

Though  ever  graving  on  my  heart  her  smile, 

From  thee  I  go,  O  Waterfall  beloved ! 

In  midnight  dreamings  I  shall  oft  behold 

Thy  beauties  sweeping  o'er  my  feeling  heart ; 

I  pray  the  Father  that  thy  memories  aye 

May  serve  to  cleanse  it  from  corruption's  stain, 

As  thine  own  waters  purify  earth's  forms. 

Farewell,  blest  Charmer,  it  is  hard  to  part 

From  one  endeared  by  sacred  ties  of  song ; 

But  earth  to  other  tasks  invokes  her  son ; 

Her  requisitions  stern  oft  mar  our  bliss, 

And  parting  ever  is  the  lot  she  gives. 

Farewell !  my  breast,  though  swelling  with  regret, 


132  NIAGARA. 

My  eyes,  though  streaming  o'er  with  heart-warm  tears, 
In  loving  grief,  with  sympathy  for  thee, 
May  not  reverse  the  summons  to  be  gone ! 
I  haste  away,  loved  Waterfall — FAREWELL  ! 


NOTES 


• 


NOTES. 


NOTE  1.— PAGE  9. 

THE  name  NIAGARA  is  of  Indian  origin,  and  according 
to  a  pamphlet  published  in  1827,  by  David  Casich,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Tuscarora  tribe  of  Indians,  who  occupied  the 
grounds  contiguous  to  the  Falls,  its  orthography  and 
pronunciation  among  this  people  were  originally  thus  : 
Ony-a-kar-ra,  the  signification  of  which  is  variously  given 
by  others  as  the  "  Thunder  of  waters" — "Across  the  neck 
or  strait  of  waters" — "  A  fall  of  water" — "  Broken  water" 
— "  Running  wat.er" — "  The  voice  of  Haters."  The  first  is 
probably  the  most  correct  signification. 

The  Cataract  itself  is  found  at  forty-three  degrees  and 
six  minutes,  north  latitude,  and  two  degrees  six  minutes  west 
longitude  from  Washington.  Its  distance  from  Lake  Erie 
towards  the  north,  where  the  Niagara  river  commences, 
is  twenty  miles,  and  fourteen  miles  from  Lake  Ontario, 
towards  the  south,  where  the  river  terminates. 

The  earliest  reference  whatever  that  we  have  of  the 
Falls  is  that  of  Creuxio,  the  author  of  a  History  of  Canada, 
published  in  1660,  who  has  marked  it  down  upon  his  map, 
but  has  not  mentioned  it,  however,  in  the  History  itself. 


136  tfOTES. 

We  next  find  a  description  of  this  wonder  by  Father  Hen- 
nepin,  who  visited  it  in  December,  1678.  This  Hennepin 
was  a  Roman  Catholic  missionary,  who  having  come  to 
Canada  in  1676,  and  remained  at  Fort  Frontenac,  in  the 
discharge  of  his  priestly  functions,  for  two  years,  after- 
wards accompanied  La  Salle  in  his  expedition  to  the 
Upper  Lakes  and  the  Mississippi.  His  work  is  entitled,  "  A 
New  Discovery  of  a  Vast  Country  in  America,  extending 
above  four  thousand  miles,  between  New  France  and  New 
Mexico,  with  a  description  of  the  Great  .Lakes,  Cataracts, 
Rivers,  Plants  and  Animals ;  also  the  Manners,  Customs 
and  Languages  of  the  several  Native  Indians,  and  the  Ad- 
vantages of  Commerce  with  these  different  Nations,  &c." 
Dedicated  to  His  most  Excellent  Majesty,  William  III., 
King  of  Great  Britain,  &c.,  by  F.  Louis  Hennepin.  Lon- 
don, 1698.  His  work  was  first  published  in  Utrecht  in 
1697.  The  following  are  interesting  extracts  from  this 
account :  "  Betwixt  the  Lakes  Ontario  and  Erie,  there  is 
a  vast  and  prodigious  cadence  of  water,  which  falls  down 
after  a  surprising  and  astonishing  manner  ;  insomuch  that 
the  universe  does  not  afford  its  parallel.  'Tis  true,  Italy 
and  Suedland  boast  of  some  such  things,  but  we  may  well 
say  that  they  are  but  sorry  patterns  when  compared  with 
this  of  which  we  now  speak.  At  the  foot  of  this  horrible 
precipice,  we  meet  with  the  river  Niagara,  which  is  not 
above  a  quarter  of  a  league  broad,  but  is  wonderfully 
deep  in  some  places.  It  is  so  rapid  above  this  descent, 
that  it  violently  hurries  down  the  wild  beasts  while  en- 
deavoring to  pass  it  to  feed  on  the  other  side,  they  not  be- 


NOTES.  137 

ing  able  to  withstand  the  force  of  its  current,  which  inevi- 
tably casts  them  headlong  above  six  hundred  feet  high. 

"  This  wonderful  downfall  is  compounded  of  two  great 
cross  streams  of  water  and  two  falls,  with  an  isle  sloping 
along  the  middle  of  it.  The  waters  which  fall  from  this 
horrible  precipice  do  foam  and  boil  after  the  most  hideous 
manner  imaginable,  making  an  outrageous  noise,  more 
terrible  than  that  of  thunder ;  for  when  the  wind  blows 
out  of  the  south,  their  dismal  roaring  may  be  heard  more 
than  fifteen  leagues  off. 

"  The  river  Niagara,  having  thrown  itself  down"this 
incredible  precipice,  continues  its  impetuous  course  for 
two  leagues  together,  to  the  Great  Rock  above  mentioned, 
with  an  inexpressible  rapidity,  but  having  passed  that,  its 
impetuosity  relents,  gliding  along  more  gently  for  two 
other  leagues,  till  it  arrives  at  the  Lake  Ontario  or  Fron- 
tenac. 

"  Any  barque  or  greater  vessel  may  pass  from  the 
Fort  to  the  top  of  this  huge  rock  above  mentioned.  This 
rock  lies  to  the  westward,  and  is  cut  off  from  the  land  by 
the  river  Niagara,  about  two  leagues  further  down  than 
the  Great  Fall,  for  which  two  leagues  the  people  are 
obliged  to  transport  their  goods  over  land,  but  the  way  is 
very  good,  and  the  trees  are  but  few,  chiefly  firs  and  oaks. 

"  From  the  Great  Fall  unto  this  rock,  which  is  to  the 
west  of  the  river,  the  two  brinks  of  it  are  so  prodigious 
high,  that  it  would  make  one  tremble  to  look  steadily  upon 
the  water,  rolling  along  with  a  rapidity  not  to  be  imagined. 
Were  it  not  for  this  vast  cataract,  which  interrupts  navi- 

7* 


138  NOTES. 

gation,  they  might  sail  with  barques  or  greater  vessels 
more  than  four  hundred  and  fifty  leagues,  crossing  the 
Lake  of  Huron,  and  reaching  even  to  the  further  end  of 
the  Lake  Illinois ;  which  two  lakes  we  may  easily  say 
are  little  seas  of  fresh  water. 

"  After  we  had  rowed  above  an  hundred  and  forty 
leagues  upon  the  Lake  Erie,  by  reason  of  the  many  wind- 
ings of  the  bays  and  creeks  which  we  were  forced  to 
coast,  we  passed  by  the  Great  Fall  of  Niagara,  and  spent 
half  a  day  in  considering  the  wonders  of  that  prodigious 
cascade. 

"  I  could  not  conceive  how  it  came  to  pass,  that  four 
great  lakes,  the  least  of  which  is  four  hundred  leagues  in 
compass,  should  empty  themselves  one  into  another,  and 
then  all  centre  and  discharge  themselves  at  this  Great 
Fall,  and  yet  not  drown  good  part  of  ^America.  What  is 
yet  more  surprising,  the  ground,  from  the  mouth  of  Lake 
Erie  down  to  the  Great  Fall,  appears  almost  level  and  flat. 
It  is  scarce  discernible  that  there  is  the  least  rise  or  fall 
for  six  leagues  together.  The  more  than  ordinary  swift- 
ness of  the  stream  is  the  only  thing  which  makes  it  to  be 
observed.  And  that  which  makes  it  yet  the  stranger  is, 
that  for  two  leagues  together,  below  the  Fall  towards  Lake 
Ontario  or  Frontenac,  the  lands  are  as  level  as  they  are 
above  it  or  towards  the  Lake  Erie. 

"  Our  surprise  was  still  greater  when  we  observed 
there  was  no  mountain  within  two  good  leagues  of  this 
cascade  ;  and  yet  the  vast  quantity  of  water  which  is  dis- 
charged by  these  four  fresh  seas,  stops  or  centres  here, 


NOTES.  139 

and  so  falls  above  six  hundred  feet  deep  down  into  a  gulf 
which  one  cannot  look  upon  without  horror.  Two  other 
great  outlets  or  falls  of  water  which  are  on  the  two  sides 
of  a  small  sloping  island,  which  is  in  the  midst,  fall  gently 
and  without  noise,  and  so  glide  away  quietly  enough  ; 
but  when  this  prodigious  quantity  of  water  of  which  I 
speak,  comes  to  the  fall,  there  is  such  a  din  and  such  a 
noise,  more  deafening  than  the  loudest  thunder. 

"  The  rebounding  of  these  waters  is  so  great,  that  a 
sort  of  cloud  arises  from  the  foam  of  it,  which  is  seen 
hanging  over  this  abyss,  even  at  noon-day,  when  the  sun 
is  at  its  height.  In  the  midst  of  summer,  when  the 
weather  is  hottest,  they  rise  above  the  tallest  firs,  and 
other  great  trees,  which  grow  on  the  sloping  island  which 
makes  the  two  falls  of  water  that  I  spoke  of. 

"  I  wished  an  hundred  times  that  somebody  had  been 
with  us  who  could  have  described  the  wonders  of  this  pro- 
digious Fall,  so  as  to  give  the  reader  a  just  and  natural 
idea  of  it ;  such  as  might  satisfy  him,  and  cause  in  him 
an  admiration  of  this  prodigy  of  Nature  as  great  as  it  de- 
serVes.  In  the  meantime  accept  the  following  draught, 
such  as  it  is  ;  in  which  however  I  have  endeavored  to  give 
the  curious  reader  as  just  an  image  of  it  as  I  can. 

"  We  must  call  to  mind  what  I  observed  of  it  in  the  be- 
ginning of  my  voyage.  From  the  rnouth  of  the  Lake  Erie 
to  the  Great  Fall  are  reckoned  six  leagues,  as  I  have  said, 
which  is  the  continuation  of  the  great  river  of  St.  Law- 
rence, which  arises  out  of  the  four  lakes  above  mentioned. 
The  river,  you  must  needs  think,  is  very  rapid  for  these 


140  NOTES. 

six  leagues,  because  of  the  vast  discharge  of  waters  which 
fall  into  it  out  of  the  said  lakes.  The  lands  which  lie  on 
both  sides  of  it  to  the  east  and  west,  are  all  level  from  the 
Lake  Erie  to  the  Great  Fall.  Its  banks  are  not  steep^  on 
the  contrary,  the  water  is  almost  always  level  with  the 
land.  It  is  very  certain,  that  the  ground  towards  the  Fall 
is  lower,  by  the  more  than  ordinary  swiftness  of  the  stream  ; 
and  yet  it  is  not  perceivable  to  the  eye  for  six  leagues 
above. 

"  After  it  has  run  thus  violently  for  six  leages,  it  meets 
with  a  small  sloping  island,  about  half  a  quarter  of  a  league 
long,  and  near  three  hundred  feet  broad,  as  well  as  one 
can  guess  by  the  eye ;  for  it  is  impossible  to  come  at  it  in 
a  canoe  of  bark,  the  waters  run  with  that  force.  The  isle 
is  full  of  cedar  and  fir,  but  the  land  of  it  lies  no  higher  than 
that  on  the  banks  of  the  river.  It  seems  to  be  all  level, 
even  as  far  as  the  two  great  cascades  that  make  the  main 
Fall. 

"  The  two  sides  of  the  channels,  which  are  made  by  the 
isle,  and  run  on  both  sides  of  it,  overflow  almost  the  very 
surface  of  the  earth  of  the  said  isle,  as  well  as  the  land 
that  lies  on  the  banks  of  the  river  to  the  east  and  west  as 
it  runs  south  and  north.  But  we  must  observe,  that  at  the 
end  of  the  isle,  on  the  side  of  the  two  Great  Falls,  there  is 
a  sloping  rock  which  reaches  as  far  as  the  great  gulf,  into 
which  the  said  water  falls,  and  yet  the  rock  is  not  at  all 
wetted  by  the  two  cascades,  which  fall  on  both  sides,  be- 
cause the  two  torrents  which  are  made  by  the  isle,  throw 
themselves  with  a  prodigious  force,  one  towards  the  east, 


NOTES.  141 

and  the  other  towards  the  west,  from  off  the  end  of  the  isle, 
where  the  Great  Fall  of  all  is. 

"  After  these  two  torrents  have  thus  run  by  the  two 
sides  of  the  isle,  they  cast  their  waters  all  of  a  sudden 
down  into  the  gulf  by  two  great  falls ;  which  waters  are 
pushed  so  violently  on  by  their  own  weight,  and  so  sus- 
tained by  the  swiftness  of  the  motion,  that  they  do  not  wet 
the  rock  in  the  least.  And  here  it  is  that  they  tumble 
down  into  an  abyss  six  hundred  feet  in  depth. 

"  The  waters  that  flow  on  the  side  of  the  east,  do  not 
throw  themselves  with  that  violence  as  those  that  fall  on 
the  west ;  the  reason  is,  because  the  rock  at  the  end  of  the 
island  rises  something  more  on  this  side  than  it  does  on  the 
west ;  and  so  the  waters  being  supported  by  it  somewhat 
longer  than  they  are  on  the  other  side,  are  carried  the 
smoother  off;  but  on  the  west,  the  rock  sloping  more,  the 
waters,  for  want  of  support,  become  sooner  broken,  and  fall 
with  greater  precipitation.  Another  reason  is,  the  lands 
that  lie  on  the  west  are  lower  than  those  that  lie  on  the 
east.  We  also  observed  that  the  waters  of  the  fall  that  is 
to  the  west,  made  a  sort  of  square  figure  as  they  fell, 
which  made  a  third  cascade,  less  than  the  other  two  which 
fell  betwixt  the  south  and  north. 

"  And  because  there  is  a  rising  ground  which  lies  be- 
fore these  two  cascades  to  the  north,  the  gulf  is  much 
larger  there  than  to  the  east.  Moreover,  we  must  observe 
that  from  the  rising  ground  that  lies  over  against  the  last 
two  falls,  which  are  on  the  west  of  the  main  fall,  one  may 
go  down  as  far  as  the  bottom  of  this  terrible  gulf.  The 


142  NOTES. 

author  of  this  discovery  was  down  there,  the  more  nar- 
rowly to  observe  the  fall  of  these  prodigious  cascades. 
From  thence  we  could  discover  a  spot  of  ground,  which  lay 
under  the  fall  of  water  which  is  to  the  east,  big  enough 
for  four  coaches  to  drive  abreast  without  being  wet ;  but  be- 
cause the  ground  which  is  to  the  east  of  the  sloping  rock, 
where  the  first  fall  empties  itself  into  the  gulf,  is  very 
steep  and  perpendicular,  it  is  impossible  for  a  man  to  get 
down  on  that  side,  into  the  place  where  the  four  coaches 
may  go  abreast,  or  to  make  his  way  through  such  a  quan- 
tity of  water  as  falls  towards  the  gulf;  so  that  it  is  very 
probable  that  to  this  dry  place  it  is  that  the  rattlesnakes 
retire,  by  certain  passages  which  they  find  under  ground. 

"From  the  end  of  this  island  it  is  that  these  two  great 
falls  of  water,  as  also  the  third  but  now.  mentioned,  throw 
themselves,  after  a  most  surprising  manner,  down  into  a 
dreadful  gulf,  six  hundred  feet  and  more  in  depth.  I  have 
already  said,  that  the  waters  which  discharge  themselves 
at  the  cascade  to  the  east,  fall  with  lesser  force  ;  whereas 
those  to  the  west  tumble  all  at  once,  making  two  cascades, 
one  moderate,  the  other  very  violent  and  strong,  which  at 
last  make  a  kind  of  crotchet  or  square  figure,  falling  from 
south  to  north  and  west  to  east.  After  this  they  rejoin  the 
waters  of  the  other  cascade  that  falls  to  the  east,  and  so 
tumble  down  altogether,  though  unequally,  into  the  gulf, 
with  all  the  violence  that  can  be  imagined,  from  a  fall  of 
six  hundred  feet,  which  makes  the  most  frightful  cascade 
in  the  world. 

"  After  these  waters  have  thus  discharged  themselves 


NOTES.  143 

into  the  dreadful  gulf,  they  begin  to  resume  their  course, 
and  continue  the  great  river  St.  Lawrence  for  two  leagues, 
as  far  as  the  three  mountains  which  are  on  the  east  side  of 
the  fiver,  and  the  great  rock,  which  is  on  the  west  and  lifts 
itself  three  fathoms  above  the  water,  or  thereabouts.  The 
gulf  into  which  these  waters  are  discharged,  continues  it- 
self thus  two  leagues  together  between  a  chain  of  rocks, 
flowing  with  a  prodigious  torrent,  which  is  bridled  and  kept 
in  by  the  rocks  that  lie  on  each  side  of  the  river. 

"  Into  this  gulf  it  is  that  these  several  cascades  empty 
themselves,  with  a  violence  equal  to  theiieight  from  whence 
they  fall,  and  the  quantity  of  water  which  they  discharge  ; 
and  hence  arise  those  deafening  sounds,  that  dreadful  roar- 
ing and  bellowing  of  the  waters,  which  drown  the  loudest 
thunder,  as  also  the  perpetual  mists  that  hang  over  the  gulf, 
and  rise  above  the  tallest  pines  that  are  in  the  little  isle  so 
often  mentioned.  After  a  channel  is  again  made  at  the 
bottom  of  this  dreadful  fall,  by  the  chain  of  rocks,  and  filled 
by  that  prodigious  quantity  of  waters  which  are  continually 
falling,  the  river  St.  Lawrence  resumes  its  course.  But 
with  that  violence,  and  its  waters  beat  against  the  rocks 
with  so  prodigious  a  force,  that  it  is  impossible  to  pass  even 
in  a  canoe  of  bark,  though  in  one  of  them  a  man  may  ven- 
ture safe  enough  upon  the  most  rapid  streams,  by  keeping 
close  to  the  shore. 

"  These  rocks,  as  also  the  prodigious  torrent,  last  for 
two  leagues,  that  is  from  the  great  falls,  to  the  three  moun- 
tains and  great  rock  ;  but  then  it  begins  insensibly  to  abate, 
and  the  land  to  be  again  almost  on  a  level  with  the  water, 


144  NOTES. 

and  so  it  continues  as  far  as  the  Lake  Ontario  or  Frontjenac. 
"  When  one  stands  near  the  fall,  and  looks  down  into 
the  dreadful  gulf,  one  is  seized  with  horror,  and  the  head 
turns  round,  so  that  one  cannot  look  long  or  steadfastly 
upon  it.  But  this  vast  deluge  beginning  insensibly  to  abate, 
and  even  to  fall  to  nothing  about  the  three  mountains,  the 
waters  of  the  river  St.  Lawrence  begin  to  glide  more  gently 
along,  and  to  be  almost  upon  a  level  with  the  lands  ;  so  that 
it  becomes  navigable  again  as  far  as  the  Lake  Frontenac, 
over  which  we  pass  to  come  to  the  new  canal,  which  is 
made  by  the  discharge  of  its  waters.  Then  we  enter  again 
upon  the  river  St.  Lawrence,  which  not  long  after  makes 
that  which  they  call  the  Long  Fall,  an  hundred  leagues 
from  Niagara. 

"  I  have  often  heard  talk  of  the  cataracts  of  the  Nile, 
which  make  the  people  deaf  that  live  near  them.  I  know 
not  if  the  Iroquois,  who  formerly  inhabited  near  this  fall, 
and  lived  upon  wild  beasts  which  from  time  to  time  are 
borne  down  by  the  violence  of  its  torrents,  withdrew  them- 
selves from  its  neighborhood,  lest  they  should  likewise  be- 
come deaf,  or  out  of  the  continual  fear  they  were  in  of  rat- 
tlesnakes, which  are  very  common  in  this  place  during 
the  great  heats,  and  lodge  in  the  holes  of  the  rocks  as  far 
as  the  mountains  which  lie  two  leagues  lower." 

This  description  is  generally  correct,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  some  exaggerations  respecting  the  height  of  the  falls 
and  the  several  distances  referred  to,  which  will  be  cor- 
rectly stated  in  the  subsequent  notes. 

The  next  account  of  the  Falls  was  given  by  Baron  La 


NOTES.  145 

Hontaine,  who  published  in  London  duriftg  the  year  1703 
a  work  entitled  "  New  Voyages  to  North  America,"  &c.; 
which  was  originally  written  in  the  French  language. 
He  records  his  visit  as  occurring  in  1688,  and  thus  de- 
scribes the  Falls :  "  As  for  the  waterfall  of  Niagara,  'tis 
seven  or  eight  hundred  feet  high,  and  a  half  league  broad. 
Towards  the  middle  of  it  we  descry  an  island,  that  leans 
towards  the  precipice  as  if  it  were  ready  to  fall.  All  the 
beasts  that  cross  the  waters  within  half  a  quarter  of  a  league 
above  this  unfortunate  island,  are  sucked  in  by  the  stream; 
Between  the  surface  of  the  water,  that  shelves  off  prodi- 
giously, and  the  foot  of  the  precipice,  three  men  may  cross 
it  abreast,  without  any  other  damage  than  a  sprinkling  of 
some  few  drops  of  water." 

The  testimony  of  De  Kalm,  a  Danish  naturalist,  who 
visited  the  Falls  in  1750,  published  in  the  Gentleman's 
Magazine,  in  1757,  agrees  with  that  of  Father  Hennepfn, 
with  one  exception  respecting  the  third  cascade,  to  which 
reference  will  be  made  in  the  following  notes. 

The  estimate  concerning  the  height  of  the  Falls  made 
by  Hennepin  and  La  Hontaine,  is  greatly  exaggerated, 
unless  we  consider  the  probability  that  they  reckoned  the 
distance  from  the  highest  summit  of  the  precipice  to  the 
supposed  depth  of  the  gulf  below,  which  distance  ap- 
proximates somewhat  nearly  to  that  thus  given. 

The  real  height  of  the  Falls,  however,  is  estimated  at  one 
hundred  and  sixty-four  feet  on  the  American  side,  and  one 
hundred  and  fifty-four  feet  on  the  Canada  side.  The  water 
is  precipitated  over  a  ledge  of  rocks  in  a  compact  mass 


146  NOTES. 

into  a  chasm,  the^epth  of  which  has  never  been  correctly 
ascertained.  From  the  violence  and  rapidity  of  the  water 
below,  all  efforts  to  fathom  it  have  been  vain ;  but  it  is 
supposed  to  be  about  two  hundred  and  forty  feet  deep. 

There  are  at  present  really  three  separate  Falls  form- 
ing the  Cataract  of  Niagara,  produced  by  the  intervention 
of  islands  dividing  the  river  in  its  descending  course, 
and  presenting,  on  their  southern  sides,  high  precipices,  the 
extension  of  which  forms  the  area  of  descent.  That  por- 
tion of  the  torrent  which  is  between  Iris  and  Luna  or 
Prospect  Islands,  is  called  the  Central  Fall.  Between  the 
American  shore  and  Prospect  Island  is  the  American  or 
Schlosser  Fall ;  and  the  British  or  Horseshoe  Fall,  be- 
tween Iris  Island  and  the  Canada  shore.  The  two  former 
Cascades  viewed  together  are  usually  called  the  American 
Fall,  and  have  a  descent  of  one  hundred  and  sixty-four 
feet ;  they  stretch  to  an  extent  of  one  thousand  feet.  The 
Horseshoe  Fall  is  the  largest  portion  of  the  Cataract, 
having  an  extent  of  two  thousand  and  one  hundred  feet, 
and  a  height  of  one  hundred  and  fifty-eight  feet.  Its  shape 
is  more  like  an  Indian  bow  than  a  horseshoe,  the  curve  of 
which,  in  its  centre,  is  always  obscured  by  the  clouds  of 
vapor  that  ascend  from  the  turbulent  tide  below. 

These  Falls  have  undergone  some  changes  since  their 
first  discovery.  When  Father  Hennepin  first  visited  them, 
the  Horseshoe  Fall  was  nearly  straight.  From  the  view 
which  his  rude  engraving  gives  of  the  Cataract,  and  from 
his  minute  description,  it  is  evident  that  a  rock  projected 
upon  the  west  side  of  the  river,  which  turned  a  part  of  the 


NOTES.  147 

water  across  the  main  Fall,  thus  making  an  additional 
cascade  not  found  at  the  present  time.  This  is  a  fact  of 
great  interest,  exhibiting  at  least  one  important  change  as 
having  occurred  within  the  historical  era.  That  a  portion 
of  the  water  was  projected  from  west  to,  east,  almost  at 
right  angles  with  the  main  Fall,  forming  a  cross  Fall, 
cannot  be  questioned.  Professor  Kalm,  who  visited  Nia- 
gara seventy-three  years  after  Father  Hennepin,  speaks 
of  a  precipitation  of  the  rocks  at  this  point,  where  the 
water  was  turned  originally  out  of  its  direct  course,  as 
having  occurred  a  few  years  previous  to  his  visit,  and  in 
his  engraved  view  of  the  Falls  indicates  the  precise  spot 
which  corresponds  to  that  stated  by  Hennepin. 

Various  attempts  have  been  made  to  arrive  at  a  cor- 
rect estimate  of  the  amount  of  water  passing  over  the 
precipice  of  Niagara.  Dr.  Dwight,  taking  the  depth, 
width,  and  velocity  of  the  current,  as  his  data,  calculated 
that  more  than  eighty-five  millions  of  tons  went  over  per 
hour.  By  another  calculation,  supposing  the  current  to 
run  at  the  rate  of  six  miles  per  hour,  instead  of  five  as 
in  the  first,  the  quantity  has  been  estimated  at  the  rate 
of  102,093,750  tons  per  hour.  But  this  estimate  of  the 
velocity  of  the  tide  is  regarded  as  too  high,  a  point  how- 
ever which  can  scarcely  be  decided  upon  from  the  fierce- 
ness and  force  of  the  falling  torrent.  The  following  table  of 
calculations  respecting  the  amount  of  water  flowing  down 
the  Niagara  river,  is  taken  from  the  Geological  Survey  of 
the  State  of  New- York; 


1.48  NOTES. 

By  Dr.  Dwight,  it  is  estimated  at  361,392,742  cubic  ft.  permirmte. 
By  Mr.  Darby,  27,878,400         "  " 

By  Mr.  Pickens,  3,087,533        "  " 

By  Mr.  Barrett,  19,500,000        "  " 

The  last  estimate  is  from  three  different  observations 
made  at  Black  Rock,  during  the  high  water  of  1838  and 
1839.  The  extremes  of  all  the  observations  did  not  vary 
more  than  20,000  feet  per  minute.  It  will  be  seen  from 
the  variations  in  the  foregoing  calculations  that  a  correct 
estimate  can  scarcely  be  arrived  at  upon  this  point.  A. 
general  idea  therefore  only  may  be  gained  of  the  im- 
mense quantity  of  water  that  flows  so  uninterruptedly  at 
these  Falls.  This  idea  may  be  more  fully  impressed 
upon  the  mind,  by  considering  also  the  fact,  that  the  lakes 
and  tributary  streams  supplying  the  river  Niagara,  cover  a 
surface  of  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  square 
miles  ;  the  land  surface  drained  by  them  measuring  near- 
ly half  a  million  of  square  miles.  (For  a  more  full 
account  of  these  Lakes  and  tributaries,  see  subsequent  note 
on  Niagara  river.)  The  spray  arising  from  this  immense 
mass  of  falling  water  is  always  ascending,  and  visible  in 
moving  columns,  except  when  scattered  by  the  winds.  It 
assumes  a  pyramidal  form,  and  passes  off  into  clouds  that 
hover  over  the  point  from  which  it  ascended,  and  is  seen 
at  great  distances,  sometimes  not  less  than  one  hundred 
miles. 

Father  Hennepin  has  greatly  exaggerated  the  roar  of 
Niagara.  The  distance  at  which  it  can  be  heard  is 


NOTES.  149 

modified  by  the  state  of  the  atmosphere  and  the  relative 
position  of  the  listener.  Along  the  course  of  the  river  the 
sound  is  perceptible  at  a  distance  of  fourteen  miles,  and  in 
other  directions  not  more  than  five  or  six  miles.  Some 
have  declared  they  could  hear  it  when  distant  thirty  miles, 
and  even  at  Toronto,  in  Canada,  forty-five  miles.  And 
yet,  strange  to  say,  it  is  scarcely  heard  within  the  precincts 
of  the  Falls  above  and  at  a  little  distance  from  them,  the 
vibrations  of  the  atmosphere  doubtless  conveying  the  sound 
down  the  stream,  between  its  precipitous  banks.  Indeed, 
the  wonder  is  to  the  visitor,  not  that  the  cadence  is  so 
great,  but  so  small,  compared  with  the  quantity  of  water 
that  falls. 


NOTE  2. — PAGE  12. 

"  IN  the  year  that  king  Uzziah  died,  I  saw  also  the  Lord 
sitting  upon  a  throne,  high  and  lifted  up,  and  his  train 
filled  the  temple.  Above  it  stood  the  seraphims,  each  one 
had  six  wings ;  with  twain  he  covered  his  face,  and  with 
twain  he  covered  his  feet,  and  with  twain  he  did  fly.  And 
one  cried  unto  another  and  said,  Holy,  holy,  holy,  LORD  of 
hosts  ;  the  whole  earth  is  full  of  his  glory.  And  the  posts 
of  the  door  moved  at  the  voice  of  him  that  cried,  and  the 
house  was  filled  with  smoke.  Then  said  I,  wo  is  me  !  for 
I  am  undone  ;  because  I  am  a  man  of  unclean  lips,  and 
I  dwell  in  the  midst  of  a  people  of  unclean  lips ;  for  mine 
eyes  have  seen  the  King,  the  LORD  of  hosts.  Then  flew 
one  of  the  seraphims  unto  me,  having  a  live  coal  in  his 


150  NOTES. 

hand,  which  he  had  taken  with  the  tongs  from  off  the  al- 
tar :  and  he  laid  it  upon  my  mouth  and  said,  Lo,  this  hath 
touched  thy  lips  ;  and  thine  iniquity  is  taken  away  and 
thy  sin  purged." — Isaiah  iv.  1-5. 

NOTE  3.— PAGE  21. 

It  is  said  that  the  stag,  when  in  the  extremity  of  the 
chase,  seeing  his  death  to  be  inevitable,  will  shed  tears. 
Thomson,  in  his  Seasons,  thus  refers  to  this  peculiarity : 

"  The  stag  too  singled ; — 

His  once  so  vivid  nerves, 

So  full  of  buoyant  spirit,  now  no  more 

Inspire  the  course ;  but  fainting,  breathless  toil, 

Sick,  seizes  on  his  heart  ;  he  stands  at  bay ; 

And  puts  his  last  weak  refuge  in  despair. 

The  big  round  tears  run  down  his  dappled  face ; 

He  groans  in  anguish ;  while  the  growling  pack, 

Blood-happy,  hang  at  his  fair  jutting  chest, 

And  mark  his  beauteous  checquer'd  sides  with  gore." 

Autumn. 

NOTE  4.— PAGE  27. 

"  Because  that  which  may  be  known  of  God  is  manifest 
in  them;  for  God  hath  showed  it  unto  them.  For  the 
invisible  things  of  him  from  the  creation  of  the  world  are 
clearly  seen,  being  understood  by  the  things  that  are 
made,  even  his  eternal  power  and  Godhead ;  so  that  they 
are  without  excuse :  because  that  when  they  knew  God, 


NOTES.  151 

they  glorified  him  not  as  God,  neither  were  thankful,  but 
became  vain  in  their  imaginations,  and  their  foolish  heart 
was  darkened.  Professing  themselves  to  be  wise,  they 
became  fools ;  and  changed  the  glory  of  the  incorruptible 
God  into  an  image  made  like  to  corruptible  man,  and  to 
birds,  and  four-footed  beasts,  and  creeping  things." — 
Romans  i.  19-23. 

NOTE  5.— PAGE  30. 

The  attempt  has  been  made  by  some  to  prove  from 
certain  changes  now  evidently  occurring  about  the  Falls 
and  the  Great  Lakes,  that  there  will  be  in  coming  time  a 
sudden  deluge  of  the  country  bordering  upon  them.  In 
reference  to  such  an  event  Mr.  Hall,  in  his  Geological 
Survey,  says,  "  The  views  which  have  been  entertained 
of  the  sudden  drainage  of  this  (Lake  Erie)  or  any  of  the 
Upper  Lakes,  and  a  deluging  of  the  country  on  the  north 
and  east,  are  no  longer  considered  tenable  by  any  one ; 
and  even  if  Lake  Erie  could  be  drained  suddenly,  it  would 
cause  no  deluge  of  any  importance.  If  the  whole  Lake 
were  at  once  placed  upon  Lake  Ontario,  it  would  only 
elevate  its  surface  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet,  so 
that  its  extent  would  not  exceed  the  limits  of  the  ancient 
lake  ridge,  and  the  outlet  would  still  be  the  valley  of  the 
St.  Lawrence." 

NOTE  6.— PAGE  33. 

"  Now  Moses  kept  the  flock  of  Jethro  his  father-in-law, 
the  priest  of  Midian  :  and  he  led  the  flock  to  the  back  side 


152  NOTES. 

of  the  desert,  and  came  to  the  mountain  of  God,  even  to 
Horeb.  And  the  Angel  of  the  LORD  appeared  unto  him 
in  a  flame  of  fire  out  of  the  midst  of  a  bush  ;  and  he 
looked,  and  behold,  the  bush  burned  with  fire,  and  the 
bush  was  not  consumed.  And  Moses  said,  I  will  now 
turn  aside,  and  see  this  great  sight,  why  the  bush  is  not 
burned.  And  when  the  LORD  saw  that  he  turned  aside 
to  see,  God  called  unto  him  out  of  the  midst  of  the  bush, 
and  said,  Moses,  Moses !  And  he  said,  Here  am  I.  And 
he  said,  Draw  not  nigh  hither  :  put  off  thy  shoes  from  off  thy 
feet ;  for  the  place  whereon  thou  standest  is  holy  ground. 
Moreover,  he  said,  I  am  the  God  of  thy  father,  the  God 
of  Abraham,  the  God  of  Isaac,  and  the  God  of  Jacob. 
And  Moses  hid  his  face  ;  for  he  was  afraid  to  look  upon 
God. — Exodus  in.  1-6. 


NOTE  7.— PAGE  33. 

Numerous  and  beautiful  Islands,  connected  with  the 
Falls,  add  much  'to  the  lovely  and  striking  character  of 
their  surrounding  scenery.  These  isolated  spots  of  earth 
are  found  above  the  cataract,  some  near  its  descent,  and 
others  at  a  greater  distance  off.  A  description  of  the  lat- 
ter is  given  in  the  note  on  Niagara  river,  already  alluded 
to.  Those  that  cluster  just  over  the  verge  of  the  precipice, 
are  here  described. 

The  first  of  these  Islands  viewed  from  the  American 
shore  is  BATH  ISLAND,  being  twenty-four  rods  in  length, 
and  containing  about  two  acres,  with  a  surface  originally 


NOTES.  153 

rough  and  broken,  covered  alternately  with  rocks  and 
trees.  From  its  shores  the  rapids  are  seen  plunging  head- 
long towards  it  with  inconceivable  impetuosity,  leading 
the  beholder  to  dread  momentarily  its  overflow.  It  is  how- 
ever based  upon  an  impregnable  rock,  and  strongly  with- 
stands the  continued  onset  of  the  furious  tides,  ever  rush- 
ing around  it  and  descending  into  the  abyss  beyond.  Just 
above  this  are  SHIP  and  BRIG  ISLANDS,  so  called  from 
their  remote  likeness  to  such  vessels,  presented  by  their 
shape  and  the  various  trees  that  thickly  cover  their  area. 
Beyond  Bath  Island  is  GOAT  or  IRIS  ISLAND,  called  by 
the  first  name  because  goats  were  formerly  raised  upon  it, 
and  by  the  second  because  upon  a  clear  sunshiny  day 
many  beautiful  rainbows  may  be  seen  from  it  overhanging 
the  Cataract.  This  Island,  forming  on  one  side  a  part  of 
the  precipice,  commences  near  the  head  of  the  Rapids  al- 
most in  the  centre  of  the  river,  dividing  it  so  as  to  form  the 
two  main  portions  of  the  Falls  that  descend  on  either  side. 
Its  length  is  half  a  mile,  and  its  width  one-fourth  of  a  mile, 
covering  an  extent  of  sixty  or  seventy  acres  of  fertile  land. 
Goat  Island,  according  to  Mr.  Hall,  is  formed  by  an  accu- 
mulation of  gravel,  sand  and  clay  upon  the  surface  of  the 
limestone  rock,  and  is  evidently  a  portion  of  a  once  much 
more  extensive  deposit.  Upon  the  southern  side  of  this 
Island,  where  there  is  an  escarpment,  the  thickness  of  the 
superficial  deposit  is  about  twenty- five  feet.  This  is  a 
most  lovely  and  romantic  spot  of  ground,  affording  a  cool 
retreat  in  summer  from  the  noon-day  heat,  beneath  the 
dense  foliage  of  trees  abounding:  there,  upon  the  trunks  of 


154  NOTES. 

which  are  inscribed  various  names  and  dates  showing  that 
visits  were  here  made  as  early  as  1769. — On  the  rocks 
names  are  chiseled  bearing  dates  1711,  1726,  1745,  be- 
lieved to  be  genuine.  This  Island  had  been  visited  often 
by  the  Frencl)  and  English  before  it  came  into  the  posses- 
sion of  the  Americans.  Two  Indians  are  said  to  have  been 
cast  upon  it,  who  in  order  to  escape  made  ropes  from  the 
bark  of  trees,  with  which  they  lowered  themselves  down  to 
the  river,  along  the  precipitous  bank  from  seventy  to  ninety 
feet  high.  But  they  returned  again,  fearing  to  pass  be- 
tween the  sheets  of  water  constituting  the  Central  and 
Schlosser  Falls,  in  order  to  reach  the  main  shore.  An  in- 
genious Frenchman  in  compassion  for  them,  is  said  to  have 
gone  to  their  assistance  on  a  pair  of  stilts  through  the 
swift  current,  and  thus  succeeded  in  their  rescue.  The 
story,  although  doubted,  is  so  much  similar  to  the  follow- 
ing told  by  Mr.  Peter  Kalm,  a  Swedish  gentleman,  in  an  old 
book  of  travels  published  in  London  in  1750,  and  quoted 
by  Mr.  Willis  in  his  Notes  on  American  Scenery,  that  the 
incident  referred  to  seems  identical  with  the  former. — "  It 
was  formerly  thought  impossible  for  any  body  living  to 
come  at  the  island  that  is  in  the  middle  of  the  Fall ;  but  an 
accident  that  happened  twelve  years  ago  made  it  appear 
otherwise.  The  history  is  this :  Two  Indians  of  the  Six 
Nations  went  out  from  Niagara  Fort  to  hunt  upon  an  island 
that  is  in  the  middle  of  the  river  or  strait,  some  miles  above 
the  Great  Fall,  on  which  there  used  to  be  abundance  of 
deer.  They  took  some  French  brandy  with  them  from  the 
fort,  which  they  tasted  several  times  as  they  were  carry- 


NOTES.  155 

ing  their  canoe  around  the  Fall ;  and  when  they  were  in 
the  canoe  they  now  and  then  took  a  dram,  and  so  went 
along  up  the  strait  toward  the  island  where  they  proposed 
to  hunt ;  but  growing  sleepy  they  laid  themselves  down  in 
the  canoe,  which,  getting  loose,  drove  back  with  the  stream 
farther  and  farther  down  till  it  came  nigh  that  island  that  is 
in  the  middle  of  the  FalK  Here,  one  of  them,  awakened 
by  the  noise,  cries  out  to  the  other,  that  they  were  gone  ! 
Yet  they  tried)  if  possible,  to  save  life.  This  island  between 
the  Falls  was  nighest,  and  with  much  working  they  got 
there.  At  first  they  were  glad  ;  but  when  they  had  con- 
sidered  every  thing,  they  thought  themselves  hardly  in  a 
better  state  than  if  they  had  gone  down  the  Fall,  since 
they  had  now  no  other  choice  than  either  to  throw  them* 
selves  down  the  same,  or  perish  with  hunger ;  but  hard 
necessity  put  them  on  invention.  At  the  lower  end  of 
the  island  the  rock  is  perpendicular  and  there  is  a  break  in 
the  Fall.  The  island  having  plenty  of  wood,  they  went  to 
work  directly,  and  made  a  ladder  or  shroud  of  the  bark  of 
the  linden  tree,  which  is  very  tough  and  strong,  so  long 
that  it  would  reach  to  the  edge  of  the  water  below.  One 
end  of  this  bark  ladder  they  tied  fast  to  a  great  tree  that 
grew  at  the  side  of  the  rock  above  the  Fall,  and  let  the 
other  end  down  to  the  water.  So  they  went  down  their 
new-invented  stairs  ;  and  when  they  came  to  the  bottom  in 
the  middle  of  the  Fall  they  rested  a  little ;  and  as  the  water 
next  below  the  Fall  is  not  rapid,  they  threw  themselves 
out  into  it,  thinking  to  swim  on  shore.  Hardly  had  the 
Indians  began  to  swim,  before  the  waves  of  the  eddy 


156  NOTES. 

threw  them  with  violence  against  the  rock  from  whence 
they  started.  They  tried  it  several  times,  but  at  last  were 
weary,  and  being  often  thrown  against  the  rock,  they  were 
much  bruised,  and  the  skin  of  their  bodies  torn  in  many 
places.  So  they  were  obliged  to  climb  up  their  stairs 
again  to  the  island,  not  knowing  what  to  do.  After  some 
time  they  perceived  Indians  on  the  opposite  shore,  to 
whom  they  cried  out.  These  pitied  them,  but  gave  them 
little  hopes  of  help ;  yet  they  made  haste  down  to  the  fort, 
and  told  the  French  commander  where  two  of  their 
brethren  were.  He  persuaded  them  to  try  all  possible 
means  of  relieving  the  two  poor  Indians ;  and  it  was  done 
in  this  manner :  The  water  that  runs  on  the  east  side  of 
the  island  is  shallow,  and  breaks  in  rapids  over  the  rocks. 
The  commandant  caused  poles  to  be  made  and  pointed 
with  iron ;  two  Indians  determined  to  walk  to  this  island 
by  the  help  of  these  poles,  to  save  the  others  or  perish. 
They  took  leave  of  their  friends,  as  if  they  were  going  to 
die.  Each  had  two  such  poles  in  his  hands,  to  set  against 
the  bottom  of  the  stream  to  keep  them  steady ;  so  they 
went  and  got  to  the  island,  and  having  given  poles  to  the 
poor  Indians  there,  they  all  returned  safely  to  the  main 
shore.  The  unfortunate  creatures  had  been  nine  days  on 
the  island,  and  were  almost  starved  to  death." 

At  the  lowest  extremity  of  Goat  or  Iris  Island  is  a  nar- 
row ridge,  called  from  its  shape  Hog's  Back,  from  which  a 
fine  view  of  the  Central  and  American  Falls,  with  the 
river  and  the  whirlpool  below,  may  be  had.  Upon  the 
rock  under  the  American  Fall  three  profiles  of  the  human 


NOTES.  157 

face  are  found  somewhat  distinctly  perceptible.  •  At  the 
head  of  the  island  the  wide  river  appears  studded  with 
Grand,  Navy,  and  other  islands  in  the  distance,  above  the 
Fall.  I  cannot  leave  this  account  of  Iris  Island,  without 
giving  the  following  extract  from  a  description  of  it  found 
in  "  Scenes  in  my  Native  Land/'  by  our  gifted  countrywo- 
man, Mrs.  Sigotirney  :  "  It  is  an  unspeakable  luxury 
here  to  sit  in  solitary  meditation,  at  once  lulled  and 
solemnized  by  the  near  voice  of  the  everlasting  torrent. 
It  seems  the  most  fascinating  of  all  the  haunts  in  this 
vicinity  ;  the  one  where  we  earliest  linger  and  latest  de- 
part. We  take  leave  of  it,  as  from  a  being  of  intelligence 
to  whom  we  have  given  our  heart.  It  has  shielded  us, 
when  our  senses  were  awe-stricken  and  overpowered, 
like  the  cliff  where  the  prophet  was  hidden  when  that 
Majesty  passed  by  which  none  can  '  see  and  live.' ' 
PROSPECT  or  LUNA  ISLAND,  is  next  to  Iris  Island,  stand- 
ing near  it,  and  between  it  and  the  main  American  shore, 
which,  dividing  the  river,  forms  the  Central  Fall  on  one 
side  towards  Iris  Island,  and  the  American  or  Schlosser 
Fall  on  the  other  side  towards  the  main  shore.  This 
island  is  about  ninety  feet  in  width,  and  is  a  most  enchant- 
ingly  retired  spot,  where  formerly  the  wild  eagles  in  un- 
disturbed seclusion  built  their  nests. 

On  the  north  side  of  Iris  Island  is  Moss  ISLAND,  so 
called  on  account  of  the  mossy,  velvet  appearance  of  its 
verdure.  It  stands  among  a  cluster  of  islands  four  in 
number,  although  apparently  there  are  only  three.  The 
outer  islands  are  called  the  THREE  SISTERS. 


158  NOTES* 

All  these  isolated  portions  of  earth  are  beautifully  pic- 
turesque in  their  appearance,  and  furnish  the  most  varied 
views  of  the  Falls  and  their  surrounding  scenery,  to  which 
these  add  much  of  beauty.  They  are  the  drapery  cast 
around  Nature  to  enhance  the  loveliness  of  her  noble  form, 
here  presented  in  its  grandest  features  and  most  striking 
attitudes.  They  form  the  still-life  pictures  amid  the 
moving  diorama  of  waters. 

NOTE  8. — PAGE  33. 

Many  of  these  islands  just  above  the  Falls,  being  former- 
ly inaccessible  except  at  the  great  hazard  of  life,  have  been 
connected  with  the  main  land  by  bridges  of  ingenious  con- 
struction. It  was  thought  by  many  quite  a  Quixotic 
undertaking,  to  attempt  the  building  of  a  bridge  to  Bath 
Island  across  the  furious  rapids  that  separated  it  from  the 
main  land  at  a  distance  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet. 
But  it  was  successfully  done  in  the  following  manner.  A 
solid  pier  was  first  erected  close  to  the  shore,  from  which 
long  beams  were  projected,  held  firmly  at  their  ends  upon 
the  pier  by  heavy  weights,  and  covered  with  planks,  form- 
ing a  temporary  bridge.  From  the  opposite  ends  of  these 
extended  beams  large  stones  were  cast,  to  form  another 
pier,  until  they  rose  in  a  pile  above  the  water,  where  they 
were  secured  in  the  proper  shape  and  solidity,  by  heavy 
timbers,  well  framed,  let  down  to  enclose  them.  These 
timbers,  successively  sunk  upon  one  another,  and  well 
filled  with  stones,  formed  a  solid  pier.  Another  section  of 
the  bridge  was  constructed  in  the  same  ingenious  manner, 


NOTES.  151) 

until  the  whole  was  completed,  at  a  cost  of  about  two 
thousand  dollars.  In  the  same  way,  a  connection  has 
been  made  between  Bath  and  Iris  Islands,  making  the 
whole  extent  of  bridge  over  those  turbulent  rapids,  forty- 
four  rods. 


NOTE  9.— PAGE  34. 

"  To  provide  security  fo»  those  who  should  undesign- 
edly  kill  a  man,  the  Lord  commanded  Moses  to  appoint 
six  citias  of  refuge  or  Asyla,  that  whoever  should  have 
thus  spilt  blood,  might  retire  thither,  and  have  time  to  pre- 
pare his  defence  before  the  Judges  ;  and  that  the  kinsmen 
of  the  deceased  might  not  pursue  and  kill  him.  Exodus 
xxi.  13 ;  Numbers  xxxv.  11,  &c.  Of  such  cities  there 
were  three  on  each  side  of  the  Jordan.  On  the  west, 
were  Kedesh  of  Naphtali,  Hebron,  and  Shechem  ;  on  the 
east,  Berer,  Golan,  and  Ramoth-Gilead.  Joshua  xx.  7,  8. 
These  cities  served  not  only  for  the  Hebrews,  but  for  all 
strangers  that  resided  in  the  country.  Deut.  xix.  1-8. 
The  Lord  also  commanded,  that  when  the  Hebrews  should 
multiply  and  enlarge  their  land,  they  should  add  three 
other  cities  of  refuge.  As  this  command  was  never  ful- 
filled, the  rabbins  say  that  the  Messiah  will  accomplish  it. 

Maimonides,  from  the  traditions  of  the  ancients,  assures 
us,  that  all  the  forty-eight  cities,  appointed  for  habitations 
of  the  priests  and  Levites,  were  also  cities  of  refuge  ;  and 
that  all  the  difference  between  them  was,  that  the  six  cities 
appointed  by  the  law,  were  obliged  to  receive  and  lodge 


160  NOTES. 

refugees  gratis ;  whereas  the  other  cities  might  refuse  to 
admit  such  as  fled  to  them,  and  were  not  obliged  to  lodge 
them  gratuitously.  Besides  the  cities  of  refuge,  the  tem- 
ple, and  especially  the  altar  of  burnt-offerings,  enjoyed 
the  privilege  of  an  asylum.  Those  who  took  sanctuary 
in  the  temple  were  immediately  examined  by  the  judges ; 
and,  if  found  guilty  of  murder,  they  were  forced  away 
even  from  the  altar,  and  put  to  death  without  the  temple. 
But  if  found  innocent,  they  had  a  guard  appointed,  to  con- 
duct them  safely  to  some  city  of  refuge.  . 

The  cities  of  refuge  were  to  be  of  easy  access ;  and 
every  year,  on  the  fifteenth  of  Adar,  the  magistrates  in- 
spected the  roads,  to  see  that  they  were  in  good  condition, 
and  that  there  were  no  impediments.  At  every  division 
of  the  road  was  a  direction-post,  on  which  was  written, 
Refuge,  Refuge,  for  the  guidance  of  him  who  was  fleeing 
for  security.  They  were  to  be  well  supplied  with  water 
and  provisions.  It  was  not  allowed  to  make  any  weapons 
there,  that  the  relations  of  the  deceased  might  not  procure 
arms  to  gratify  their  revenge.  It  was  necessary  that 
whoever  took  refuge  there  should  understand  a  trade,  that 
he  might  not  be  chargeable.  They  used  to  send  some 
prudent  and  moderate  persons,  to  meet  those  who  were 
pursuing  the  culprit,  in  order  to  dispose  them  to  clemency 
and  forgiveness,  and  to  await  the  decision  of  justice. 

At  the  death  of  the  high-priest,  the  refugee  might  quit 
the  city  in  which  he  was.  But  though  the  man-slayer 
had  fled  to  the  city  of  refuge,  he  was  not  exempt  from  the 
power  of  justice.  Numb.  xxxv.  12.  An  information  was 


NOTES.  101 

lodged  against  him ;  and  he  was  summoned  before  the 
judges  and  the  people,  to  prove  that  the  murder  was  truly 
casual  and  involuntary.  If  found  innocent,  he  dwelt 
safely  in  the  city  to  which  he  had  retired ;  if  otherwise, 
he  was  put  to  death  according  to  the  law.  Scripture  is  not 
very  express,  whether  the  affair  came  under  the  cogni- 
zance of  the  judges  of  the  place  where  the  murder  was 
committed,  or  of  the  judges  of  the  cities  of  refuge,  to 
which  the  murderer  had  fled.  (Comp.  Deut.  xix.  11,  12 ; 
Josh.  xx.  4,  5,  6  ;  Numb.  xxxv.  25.)  But  it  appears  from 
the  passage  of  Joshua  that  the  fugitive  underwent  two 
trials :  first,  in  the  city  of  refuge,  where  the  judges  sum- 
marily examined  the  affair;  secondly,  in  his  own  city, 
where  the  magistrates  examined  the  cause  more  strictly. 
If  the  latter  judges  declared  him  innocent,  they  rec on- 
ducted  him,  under  a  guard,  to  the  city  of  refuge." — 
Calmet's  Dictionary,  Article  REFUGE. 

"  Altars  and  temples  afforded  an  asylum,  or  place  of 
refuge,  among  the  Greeks  and  Romans,  as  among  the 
Jews,  chiefly  to  slaves  from  the  cruelty  of  their  masters, 
to  insolvent  debtors  and  criminals,  where  it  was  reckoned 
impious  to  touch  them,  and  whence  it  was  unlawful  to 
drag  them  ;  but  sometimes  they  put  fire  and  combustible 
materials  around  the  place,  that  the  person  might  appear 
to  be  forced  away,  not  by  men,  but  by  a  god  (Vulcan), 
or  shut  up  the  temple  and  unroofed  it,  that  he  might  perish 
under  the  open  air  ;  hence  ara  is  put  for  refugium.  The 
triumviri  consecrated  a  chapel  to  Caesar  in  the  forum,  on 
the  place  where  he  was  burned,  and  ordained  that  no 

8* 


16*2  .NOTES. 

person  who  fled  thither  for  sanctuary  should  be  taken 
thence  to  punishment ;  a  thing  which,  says  Dio,  had  been 
granted  to  no  one  before,  not  even  to  any  divinity  ;  except 
the  asylum  of  Romulus,  which  remained  only  in  name, 
being  so  blocked  up  that  no  one  could  enter  it.  But  the 
shrine  of  Julius  was  not  always  esteemed  inviolable; 
the  son  of  Anthony  was  slain  by  Augustus,  although  he 
fled  to  it."— Adams1  Roman  Antiquities. 

NOTE  10.— PAGE  34. 

THE  RAPIDS,  forming  a  grand  and  striking  feature  in 
the  scenery  of  Niagara,  are  produced  by  the  compression 
of  the  river  to  the  width  of  two  miles  and  a  half;  just 
below  the  termination  of  Grand  and  Navy  Islands ;  and 
by  its  course  for  the  distance  of  three  quarters  of  a  mile 
over  ledges  of  rugged  rocks,  making  a  descent  of  fifty-two 
feet  on  the  American  side,  and  fifty-seven  on  the  Canada 
side.  It  is  impossible  to  give  an  adequate  idea  of  this 
rushing,  boiling  tide,  that  sweeps  down,  through  the  islands 
towards  the  verge,  as  if  a  myriad  war-steeds,  neighing 
and  panting,  were  contending  with  the  most  intense 
ferocity.  The  Rapids  form  the  prelude  to  the  grander 
displays  of  the  Falls  themselves,  and  viewed  alone,  are 
unequal ed  in  their  kind. 

NOTE  11. — PAGE  35. 

In  the  summer  of  1841,  a  Mr.  Allen,  while  crossing 
the  Niagara  River,  from  Chippewa  to  the  American  side, 


NOTES.  163 

unfortunately  broke  an  oar  while  in  the  middle  of  the 
stream,  being  about  three  miles  above  the  Cataract.  His 
skiff  became  unmanageable,  and  was  drawn  down  by  the 
current  into  the  rapids.  Having  in  vain  endeavored  to 
steer  it  with  his  remaining  oar  towards  Iris  Island,  he  was 
providentially  hurled  against  one  of  the  islands  among  the 
cluster  called  the  Three  Sisters,  his  boat  having  just  be- 
fore that  overturned  and  filled.  Here  he  was  discovered 
by  means  of  the  smoke  from  a  fire  he  had  kindled  during 
the  night — and  was  rescued  thence  by  Mr.  Joel  R.  Rob- 
inson, a  daring  boatman,  who,  after  one  or  two  failures, 
succeeded  at  last  in  throwing  a  cord,  with  a  weight  at- 
tached, across  the  rapids,  by  which  he  passed  over  with 
his  boat,  and  returned  the  next  morning  with  the  unfortu- 
nate man. 

While  the  workmen  were  repairing  the  bridge  to  Iris 
Island  in  July,  1839,  one  of  their  number,  by  the  name 
of  Chapin,  fell  from  the  staging  into  the  rapids  below,  about 
one  hundred  yards  from  the  island.  Inevitable  death 
seemed  to  await  him ;  for  he  was  being  hurried  towards 
the  Cataract.  But,  happily,  he  was  hurled  to  a  small 
island,  among  a  little  group  in  the  midst  of  the  Rapids, 
whence,  notwithstanding  the  imminent  peril  of  the  under- 
taking, he  was  rescued  by  Mr.  Robinson,  who,  for  his  gal- 
lant feats  of  this  kind,  deserves  to  have  his  name  immor- 
talized. 

To  the  eye  of  the  beholder,  such  achievements  would 
seem  incredible  amid  such  a  surging  tide.  But,  one  skilled 
in  the  management  of  a  boat,  and  acquainted  with  the 


164  NOTES. 

channels  and  eddies  found  there,  can,  though  not  without 
extreme  danger  and  difficulty,  perform  them. 


NOTE  12.— PAGE  38. 

"  Then  said  Elijah  unto  the  people,  I,  even  1  only,  re- 
main a  prophet  of  the  LORD  ;  but  Baal's  prophets  are 
four  hundred  and  fifty  men.  Let  them,  therefore,  give  us 
two  bullocks,  and  let  them  choose  one  bullock  for  them- 
selves, and  cut  it  in  pieces,  and  lay  it  on  .wood,  and  put  no 
fire  under ;  and  I  will  dress  the  other  bullock,  and  lay  it 
on  wood,  and  put  no  fire  under :  and  call  ye  on  the  name 
of  your  gods,  and  I  will  call  on  the  name  of  the  LORD  ; 
and  the  God  that  answereth  by  fire,  let  him  be  God.  And 
all  the  people  answered  and  said,  It  is  well  spoken.  And 
Elijah  said  unto  the  prophets  of  Baal,  Choose  you  one  bul- 
lock for  yourselves,  and  dress  it  first ;  for  ye  are  many ; 
and  call  on  the  name  of  your  gods,  but  put  no  fire  under. 
And  they  took  the  bullock  which  was  given  them,  and 
they  dressed  it,  and  called  on  the  name  of  Baal  from  morn- 
ing even  until  noon,  saying,  O  Baal,  hear  us.  But  there 
was  no  voice,  nor  any  that  answered.  And  they  leaped 
upon  the  altar  which  was  made.  And  it  came  to  pass  at 
noon,  that  Elijah  mocked  them,  and  said,  Cry  aloud ;  for 
he  is  a  god:  either  he  is  talking,  or  he  is  pursuing, ,or  he 
is  in  a  journey,  or,  peradventure,  he  sleepeth,  and  must  be 
awaked.  And  they  cried  aloud,  and  cut  themselves  after 
their  manner  with  knives  and  lancets,  till  the  blood  gushed 
out  upon  them.  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  mid-day  was 


NOTES.  165 

past,  and  they  prophesied  until  the  time  of  the  offering  of 
the  evening  sacrifice,  that  there  was  neither  voice,  nor  any 
to  answer,  nor  any  that  regarded.  And  Elijah  said  unto 
all  the  people,  Come  near  unto  me.  And  all  the  people 
came  near  unto  him.  And  he  repaired  the  altar  of  the 
LORD  that  was  broken  down.  And  Elijah  took  twelve 
stones,  according  to  the  number  of  the  tribes  of  the  sons  of 
Jacob,  unto  whom  the  word  of  the  LORD  came,  saying, 
Israel  shall  be  thy  name  :  and  with  the  stones  he  built  an 
altar  in  the  name  of  the  LORD  :  and  he  made  a  trench 
about  the  altar,  as  great  as  would  contain  two  measures  of 
seed.  And  he  put  the  wood  in  order,  and  cut  the  bullock 
in  pieces,  and  laid  him  on  the  wood,  and  said,  Fill  four  bar- 
rels with  water,  and  pour  it  on  the  burnt-sacrifice,  and  on 
the  wood.  And  he  said,  Do  it  the  second  time.  And  they 
did  it  the  second  time.  And  he  said,  Do  it  the  third  time. 
And  they  did  it  the  third  time.  And  the  water  ran  round 
about  the  altar ;  and  he  filled  the  trench  also  with  water. 
And  it  came  to  pass  at  the  time  of  the  offering  of  the  eve- 
ning sacrifice  that  Elijah  the  prophet  came  near  and 
said,  LORD  God  of  Abraham,  Isaac,  and  of  Israel,  let  it  be 
known  this  day  that  thou  art  God  in  Israel,  and  that  I  am 
thy  servant,  and  that  I  have  done  all  these  things  at  thy 
word.  Hear  me,  O  LORD,  hear  me,  that  this  people  may 
know  that  thou  art  the  LORD  God,  and  that  thou  hast  turned 
their  heart  back  again.  Then  the  fire  of  the  LORD  fell 
and  consumed  the  burnt-sacrifice,  and  the  wood,  and  the 
stones,  and  the  dust,  and  licked  up  the  water  that  was  in 
the  trench.  And  when  all  the  people  saw  it,  they  fell  on 


166  NOTES. 

their  faces ;    and  they  said,  The  LORD,  he  is  God  ;  the 
LORD,  he  is  God." — 1  Kings  xviii.  23-39. 

NOTE  13. — PAGE  45. 

The  Cataract  of  Niagara  presents,  in  winter,  often- 
times a  scene  of  surpassing  grandeur  and  beauty.  Those 
who  have  visited  it  at  this  season,  affirm  that  its  appear- 
ance is  then  much  more  attractive  and  glorious,  in  many 
respects,  than  in  the  summer.  Upon  the  occurrence  of  a 
thaw  sufficient  to  break  up  the  ice  in  Lake  Erie,  it  is 
borne  down  in  masses  that  fall  over  the  precipice,  and  be- 
ing stayed  by  that  which  has  accumulated  below,  forms 
oftentimes  a  natural  bridge  across  the  stream.  In  Janu- 
ary of  1842  and  1846,  such  a  bridge  was  formed.  These 
masses  of  ice,  increased  greatly  by  the  congealing  of  the 
spray,  rise  up  from  the  base  of  the  torrent  in  a  bulwark  of 
pyramidal  form,  almost  to  the  edge  of  the  precipice.  At 
one  time,  many  persons,  with  long  poles  to  aid  them,  not 
only  crossed  the  river  and  made  excursions  up  and  down 
its  course  on  the  solid  ice,  but  actually  scaled  this  bulwark 
of  frost  in  front  of  the  Fall,  within  a  few  feet  of  its  turning 
point.  The  ice  that  formed  the  bridge  itself  was  once  not 
less  than  one  hundred  feet  thick,  and  rose  above  the  natu- 
ral surface  of  the  water  from  thirty  to  forty  feet.  Huge 
icicles,  formed  by  an  accumulation  of  frozen  spray,  hung 
perpendicularly  from  the  rocks,  and  a  gay  frost-work 
clothed  the  branches  of  the  trees  upon  the  Islands.  In  the 
clear  sunlight,  these  icy  walls  and  decorations,  of  innu- 
merable form,  glistened  with  inconceivable  beauty. 


NOTES.  167 

NOTE  14.— PAGE  48. 

The  color  of  the  waters  around  the  Falls  is  a  deep, 
beautiful  green,  which,  contrasted  with  the  frost-white 
foam  that  curls  along  the  course  of  the  stream  below,  pre- 
sents the  appearance  of  a  wind-stirred,  verdant  lawn,  be- 
strewed with  flowers  of  the  purest  white. 

NOTE  15. — PAGE  48. 

Niagara  River,  which  takes  its  name  from  the  Falls, 
is  thirty-six  miles  in  length,  reaching  from  Lake  Erie  to 
Lake  Ontario.  It  receives  the  waters  of  all  the  upper 
Lakes,  viz.,  Erie,  St.  Clair,  Huron,  Michigan,  Superior, 
and  others  smaller  than  these.  The  St.  Louis  River, 
rising  1250  miles  north-west  of  the  Falls,  and  150  miles 
west  of  Lake  Superior,  is  the  most  remote  source  of  this 
stream.  Its  position  above  the  level  of  the  sea  is  said  to 
be  1200  feet,  and  in  its  course  towards  Lake  Ontario,  it 
makes  a  descent  of  551  feet.  The  lakes  and  streams  for 
which  it  is  an  outlet,  cover  an  area  of  150,000  square  miles. 
The  length  of  Lake  Superior  is  459  miles,  its  width  100 
miles,  and  its  depth  900  feet.  The  Strait  of  St.  Mary,  60 
miles  long,  and  45  feet  in  its  descent,  conveys  the  waters 
of  Lake  Superior  into  Lake  Huron,  which  receives  besides 
the  waters  of  nearly  forty  rivers.  Lake  Michigan  is  300 
miles  long,  50  miles  wide,  and  about  900  feet  deep.  Its 
outlet  is  the  Straits  of  Mackinac,  conveying  its  waters  into 
Lake  Huron,  a  distance  of  40  miles.  Green  Bay,  for- 
merly called  the  Bay  of  Puans,  is  on  the  north-west  side 


168  NOTES. 

of  Lake  Michigan,  100  miles  long  and  20  miles  wide. 
Lake  Huron  is  218  miles  in  length,  and  180  miles  in 
width,  and  about  900  feet  deep.  Its  waters  flow  into  Lake 
Erie,  through  the  Lake  and  River  St.  Clair,  and  Ihe  De- 
troit River,  a  distance  of  90  miles,  with  a  descent  of  31 
feet.  Lake  Erie  is  290  miles  long,  63  miles  wide,  and 
120  feet  deep.  Its  level  above  the  sea  is  564  feet,  and 
above  Lake  Ontario  334  feet,  which,  of  course,  is  the  de- 
scent it  makes  to  the  latter.  The  descent  from  Lake  Erie, 
wliere  the  Niagara  River  commences,  to  Schlosser,  is  12 
feet ;  at  the  rapids  it  is  52  feet ;  at  the  Cataract  164  feet ; 
from  this  point  to  Lewiston,  104  feet ;  thence  to  Lake  On- 
tario two  feet. 

At  Lake  Erie,  where  the  Niagara  .River  commences, 
its  width  is  about  two  miles  ;  and  its  depth  from  20  to  40 
feet.  At  Black  Rock  it  is  narrowed  to  a  mile,  and  is,  at 
that  point,  deep  and  rapid,  moving  at  the  rate  of  six  or 
eight  miles  an  hour.  For  three  miles  its  current  contin- 
ues swift,  and  then  its  course  is  slow,  and  its  surface  pla- 
cid, until  within  one  mile  of  the  Falls.  At  the  head  of 
Grand  Island,  five  miles  from  Lake  Erie,  it  expands,  and 
branches  out  into  two  streams,  running  on  either  side  of 
this  Island,  the  greatest  quantity  of  water  flowing  on  the 
west  side  of  the  Island,  until  it  measures  eight  miles  across. 
Below  this,  opposite  Schlosser,  it  is  nearly  three  miles  in 
width,  and  appears  smooth  like  the  surface  of  a  quiet  lake. 
Its  descent  from  this  point  to  the  Falls  is  90  feet.  At  the 
Falls  its  width  is  three-quarters  of  a  mile  ;  at  the  Ferry 
it  is  56  rods  wide  j  at  the  Whirlpool  150  yards  wide.  Its 


NOTES.  169 

depth  varies,  in  different  places,  from  20  to  300  feet ;  and 
just  below  the  Cataract  it  has  never  been  fathomed.  Nia- 
gara River  embraces,  in  its  course,  many  beautiful  islands, 
the  lesser  ones  of  which  are  Bird  Island,  situated  between 
Buffalo  and  Lake  Erie  ;  Square  Island,  opposite  Black 
Rock,  of  131  acres;  Strawberry  Island,  of  100  acres; 
Beaver  Island,  of  30  acres ;  Rattlesnake  Island,  of  48 
acres ;  Tonawanda  Island,  of  69  acres ;  Cayuga  Island, 
of  100  acres,  nearest  to  the  American  shore,  four  miles 
above  the  Falls ;  and  Buck-horn  Island,  which  is  low  and 
marshy,  containing  146  acres. 

The  two  Islands  of  principal  note  in  this  river,  are 
GRAND  and  NAVF.  The  former  is  about  twelve  miles 
long,  and  six  miles  wide  ;  commencing  seven  miles  below 
Lake  Erie,  and  terminating  three  miles  above  the  Falls. 
It  contains  about  17,384  acres  of  well-timbered  land,  and 
has  a  few  inhabitants,  who  have  been  engaged  principally 
in  preparing  its  timber  for  shipping  purposes,  for  which 
mills  have  been  erected,  covering  an  area  of  150  feet 
square. 

NAVY  ISLAND,  belonging  to  Great  Britain,  lies  near  the 
foot  of  Grand  Island,  terminating  near  Chippewa  Point. 
It  is  one  mile  long,  and  half  a  mile  wide,  containing  304 
acres  of  land.  It  is  noted  as  the  rendezvous  of  the  Cana- 
dian revolutionists  of  1837-8. 

The  banks  of  Niagara  River,  from  Fort  Erie  on  the 
Canadian  shore,  at  the  outlet  of  Lake  Erie,  to  Chippewa, 
a  distance  of  eighteen  miles,  are  from  four  to  ten  feet  high. 
From  Chippewa  to  the  Falls  themselves,  a  distance  of  two 


170  NOTES. 

and  a  half  miles,  the  bank  is  from  ten  to  one  hundred  feet 
high,  the  descent  of  the  river  being  ninety-two  feet. 
From  the  Falls  to  Lewiston,  a  distance  of  seven  miles, 
the  bank  varies  from  one  hundred  and  fifty  to  three  hun- 
dred feet.  From  Lewiston  to  Lake  Ontario  is  seven 
miles,  and  in  this  distance  the  Northern  Terrace,  or 
Mountain  Ridge,  crosses  the  course  of  the  river,  when 
the  bank  diminishes  to  twenty-five  or  thirty  feet.  The 
gorge  through  which  the  Niagara  River  flows,  after  leaving 
the  precipice  that  forms  the  Cataract,. "  presents  almost 
perpendicular  walls,  with  a  talus  at  the  bottom,  formed 
by  the  falling  of  some  of  the  higher  strata.  The  outlet 
of  the  chasm  is  scarcely  wider  than  elsewhere  along  its 
course.  In  some  places  the  channel  is  less  than  two 
hundred  yards  across,  and  again  is  extended  to  twice  that 
width.  The  breadth  of  the  chasm  at  the  top  is  nearly 
twice  as  great  as  that  of  the  stream  below.  The  declivity 
of  the  bed  of  the  river,  from  the  Falls  to  Lewiston,  is  one 
hundred  and  four  feet,  or  nearly  fifteen  feet  in  the  mile." 
"  At  one  place,  about  a  mile  below  the  Falls,  where 
the  channel  is  narrowest,  the  stream  glides  with  compara- 
tive stillness,  while  below  this,  where  the  channel  is 
broader,  it  is  driven  along  with  great  velocity.  Again, 
below  the  whirlpool,  the  surface  of  the  river  is  more 
smooth,  and  the  current  more  gentle,  though  the  channel 
is  narrower  than  above."  "In  the  course  of  this  gorge, 
is  a  single  exception  to  the  parallel  sides  and  nearly  verti- 
cal cliffs ;  this  is  upon  the  west  bank  of  the  river  at  the 
whirlpool."  The  width  of  the  gorge  at  Lewiston  is 


NOTES  .  171 

1500  or  perhaps  2000  feet."  "  In  the  Niagara  chasm 
there  are  no  boulders,  pebbles,  or. gravel.  The  river 
occupies  the  whole  width,  at  the  bottom,  except  a  talus  on 
either  side,  formed  by  angular  fragments  fallen  from 
above."  "  From  all  that  appears  along  the  present  river 
course,  there  was  probably  an  ancient  shallow  valley 
extending  in  the  direction  of  the  present  Niagara  River, 
which  gave  the  first  direction  to  the  waters." — Extracts 
from  HaWs  Geological  Survey  of  Hie  State  of  New-  York. 


NOTE  16. — PAGE  51. 

There  are  many  caves  found  along  the  banks  of  the 
Niagara  River,  below  the  Cataract.  About  a  mile  below 
the  Falls  on  the  American  side,  are  two  caves,  one  of 
which  presents  the  appearance  that  the  rocks,  over  which 
the  American  Falls  are  now  precipitated,  would  present 
if  the  waters  were  suddenly  withdrawn.  The  other  and 
principal  cave  is  a  round  hollow  cavity,  from  six  to  eight 
feet  in  diameter.  It  is  entered  about  four  feet  from  the 
base  of  the  rock,  through  an  aperture  just  large  enough 
to  admit  a  common-sized  man.  When  first  discovered, 
its  roof  was  covered  with  beautiful  stalactites,  and  a  spring 
bubbled  up  from  the  bottom.  It  was  discovered  in  1825 
by  a  Mr.  Catlin,  from  whom  it  derives  its  name. 

Another  cave,  called  the  Giant's  Cave,  a  few  rods 
below  the  former,  is  found  at  an  elevation  of  about  ten  or 
fifteen  feet  from  the  .base  of  the  cliff.  Here  also,  upon 
its  back  and  sides,  are  some  stalactite  formations. 


172  NOTES. 

Bender's  Cave,  sometimes  called  Devil's  Denj  is  on 
the  Canada  side,  above  the  Whirlpool.  Its  breadth  and 
depth  are  about  forty  feet,  and  its  position  about  twenty 
feet  from  the  edge  of  the  bank.  For  a  description  of  the 
Cave  of  the  Winds,  see  Note  18. 

NOTE  17.— PAGE  53. 

The  melancholy  death  of  Dr.  Hungerford,  of  West 
Troy,  N.  Y.,  occurred  in  May,  1839.  While  passing 
under  Hog's  Back  Point  near  to  the  Cave  of  the  Winds, 
a  fragment  of  the  rock  overhead  was  loosened  and  pre- 
cipitated below  upon  him,  causing  instant  death.  His 
companions  escaped  with  slight  injury.  On  examination, 
his  skull  upon  the  back  part  of  his  head,  and  his  shoulder, 
were  found  to  be  broken.  It  is  a  curious  fact,  as  stated 
by  another,  that  just  previous  to  his  descent  beneath  the 
rock,  he  wrote  the  lines  in  his  note-book — 

"  I  fear  not,  I  dread  not,  though  cataracts  oppose, 
The  rocks  that  support  me,  I  rend  as  my  foes." 

NOTE  18.— PAGE  53. 

The  Cave  of  the  Winds,  or  ^Eolus'  Cave  as  it  is  called 
by  some,  and  by  others,  Ingraham's  Cave,  from  the  name 
of  its  first  discoverer,  is  found  directly  under  the  Central 
Fall.  It  is  formed  by  the  projection  of  the  rocks  from 
above,  over  which  the  water  flows.  It  is  nearly  one 
hundred  and  twenty  feet  in  width,  fifty  feet  in  depth,  and 


NOTES.  173 

over  one  hundred  feet  high.  In  1834  it  was  entered  with 
difficulty,  since  which  time  it  has  been  made  more  acces- 
sible. The  winds  and  spray  are  said  to  rush  around  within 
the  area  of  this  cave  in  ceaseless  agitation.  In  1846,  a 
gentleman  lost  his  life  in  an  attempt  to  explore  it ;  he  was 
supposed  to  have  been  suffocated,  being  found  dead,  and 
lying  upon  his  back  in  a  position  not  admitting  of  any  con- 
el  usion  that  an  accident  of  different  character  had  befallen 
him. 


NOTE  19. — PAGE  53. 

At  the  return  of  the  three  great  Jewish  festivals  of  the 
Passover,  Pentecost,  and  the  Feast  of  Tabernacles,  all  the 
adult  males  among  the  people  of  Israel  were  required  to 
make  their  appearance  at  the  tabernacle  or  the  temple 
with  their  offerings. 

NOTE  20.— PAGE  55. 

The  MANITOU,  or  PINNACLE  ROCK,  is  supposed  to  be  a 
portion  of  the  cliff,  at  the  base  of  which  it  lies,  thrown 
down  in  former  times.  It  is  situated  about  fifty  rods  above 
the  Whirlpool,  at  the  edge  of  the  river,  its  shape  being 
that  of  an  inverted  cone,  with  its  apex  resting  upon  the 
summit  of  another  large  rock,  reaching  to  the  height  of 
nearly  one  hundred  feet  from  the  water's  edge.  The  top 
of  this  rock  is  flat,  and  covered  with  moss,  and  from  it  a 
full  view  of  the  raging  whirlpool  below  is  presented. 


174  NOTES, 

NOTE  21. — PAGE  57. 

The  WHIRLPOOL  of  Niagara,  next  to  the  Falls  them- 
selves, is  an  object  of  interest  worthy  of  more  attention 
than  is  usually  given  to  it  by  visitors  in  general.  It  is 
found  at  a  distance  of  three  miles  from  the  Cataract,  where 
the  river  makes  an  acute  angle  in  its  course,  turning  to 
the  right,  and  boils  within  a  narrower  compass  than  in  any 
other  spot,  the  distance  from  rock  to  rock  not  exceeding 
two  hundred  and  twenty-five  feet.  The  current  of  the 
river  here  runs  with  such  fierce  velocity,  that  it  rises  up 
in  the  middle  ten  feet  above  the  sides.  On  the  surface  of 
this  whirling  vortex  are  often  seen  "  the  ruins  of  forest 
floating  round,  marking  out  to  the  eye  the  outline  of  that 
fatal  circle.  These  yellow  logs  and  trunks,  grinding 
against  each  other,  dip  and  rise,  following  on  in  ceaseless 
round  until  they  waste  away  in  this  their  winding-sheet. 
Occasionally  some  are  thrown  out,  and  are  borne  along  in 
a  circuitous  route  to  the  rapids,  which  commence  at  the 
outlet  of  the  whirlpool ;  a  few  find  a  resting-place  on  the 
beach,  where  they  present  many  very  grotesque  forms, 
some  resembling  the  boomareng  of  the  New  Hollander, 
others  cimeters,  rolling-pins,  and  the  like."  (Silliman's 
Journal.)  This  ever-agitated  flood  is  walled  in  by  a  circle 
of  lofty  cliffs  that,  at  some  points,  seem  to  surround  it  so 
completely  as  not  to  afford  any  egress,  and  one  would  sup- 
pose, at  first  sight,  that  the  tumultuous  torrent  had  its  outlet 
below.  The  whirlpool  is  formed  of  an  infinite  number  of 
eddies  and  vortices,  continually  advancing  and  receding. 


NOTES.  175 

with  fluctuating  courses  and  shapes,  in  which  respects  it 
differs  from  the  great  Maelstrom  of  Norway,  which  is  de- 
scribed by  an  American  Captain,  who  once  navigated  a 
ship  from  the  North  Cape  to  Drontheim,  as  "  an  immense 
circle  running  round,  of  a  diameter  of  one  and  a  half 
miles,  the  velocity  increasing  as  it  approximated  towards 
the  centre,  and  gradually  changing  its  dark  blue  color  to 
white — foaming,  tumbling,  rushing  to  its  vortex,  very  much 
concave,  as  much  so  as  the  water  in  a  funnel,  when  half 


NOTE  22.— PAGE  61. 

"  his  way  in  the  whirlwind  and  in  the*  storm, 

and  the  clouds  are  the  dust  of  his  feet." — Nahum  i.  3. 


NOTE  23.— PAGE  66. 

"  The  return  of  the  new  moons  was  announced  by  the 
sounding  of  the  silver  trumpets  (Num.  x.  2,  10  ;  xxviii. 
11-14)  ;  and  in  this  way  provision  was  made  for  keeping 
up  a  knowledge  of  the  end  and  commencement  of  each 
month." — John's  Archeology. 

"  The  new  moon  was  always  the  beginning  of  the 
month,  and  this  day  they  called  Neomenia,  new-moon  day, 
or  new  month.  They  did  not  begin  it  from  that  point  of 
time  when  the  moon  was  in  conjunction  with  the  sun,  but 
from  the  time  at  which  she  became  visible  after  that  con- 
junction. And  to  determine  this,  it  is  said,  they  had  peo- 
ple posted  on  elevated  places  to  inform  the  Sanhedrim  as 


176  NOTES. 

soon  as  possible.  Proclamation  was  then  made,  '  The 
Feast  of  the  new  moon  !  The  feast  of  the  new  moon  !'  and 
the  beginning  of  the  month  was  proclaimed  by  sound  of 
trumpets." — Calmet's  Dictionary. 

• 
NOTE  24.— PAGE  68. 

"  About  fifteen  years  since,  in  the  glow  of  early  sum- 
mer, a  young  stranger,  of  pleasing  countenance  and 
person,  made  his  appearance  at  Niagara.  It  was  at  first 
conjectured  that  he  might  be  an  artist,  as  a  large  portfolio, 
with  books  and  musical  instruments,  were  observed  among 
his  baggage.  He  was  deeply  impressed  by  the  majesty 
and  sublimity  of  the  Cataract,  and  its  surrounding  scenery, 
and  expressed  an  intention  to  remain  a  week,  that  he 
might  examine  it  accurately.  But  the  fascination  which 
all  minds  of  sensibility  feel,  in  the  presence  of  that 
glorious  work  of  the  Creator,  grew  strongly  upon  him, 
and  he  was  heard  to  say,  that  six  weeks  were  inadequate 
to  become  acquainted  with  its  outlines. 

"  At  the  end  of  that  period,  he  was  still  unable  to  tear 
himself  away,  and  desired  to  '  build  there  a  tabernacle,' 
that  he  might  indulge  both  in  his  love  of  solitary  musings 
and  of  nature's  sublimity.  He  applied  for  a  spot  upon 
the  island  of  the  « Three  Sisters,'  where  he  might  con- 
struct a  cottage  after  his  own  model,  which  comprised, 
among  other  peculiarities,  isolation  by  means  of  a  draw- 
bridge. Circumstances  forbidding  a  compliance  with  his 
,  he  took  up  his  residence  in  an  old  house  upon 


NOTES.  177 

this  island,  which  he  rendered  as  comfortable  as  the  state 
of  the  case  would  admit.  Here  he  continued  about  twenty 
months,  until  the  intrusion  of  a  family  interrupted  his 
recluse  habits.  He  then  quietly  withdrew,  and  reared  for 
himself  a  less  commodious  shelter,  near  Prospect  Point. 
Hip  simple  and  favorite  fare  of  bread  and  milk  was  readily 
purchased,  and  whenever  he  required  other  food,  he  pre- 
ferred to  prepare  it  with  his  own  hands. 

"  When  bleak  winter  came,  a  cheerful  fire  of  wood 
blazed  upon  his  hearth,  and  by  his  evening  lamp  he 
beguiled  the  hours  with  the  perusal  of  books  in  various 
languages,  and  with  sweet  music.  It  was  almost  sur- 
prising to  hear,  in  such  depth  of  solitude,  the  long-drawn, 
thrilling  tones  of  the  viol,  or  the  softest  melodies  of  the 
flute,  gushing  forth  from  that  low-browed  hut,  or  the 
guitar,  breathing  out  so  lightly,  amid  the  rush  and  thunder 
of  the  never-slumbering  tide. 

"  Yet,  though  the  world  of  letters  was  familiar  to  his 
mind,  and  the  living  world  to  his  observation,  for  he  had 
travelled  widely,  both  in  his  native  Europe,  and  the  East, 
he  sought  not  association  with  mankind,  to  unfold  or  to 
increase  his  stores  of  knowledge.  Those  who  had  heard 
him  converse,  spoke  with  surprise  and  admiration  of  his 
colloquial  powers,  his  command  of  language,  and  the 
spirit  of  eloquence  that  flowed  from  his  lips.  But  he 
seldom  and  sparingly  admitted  this  intercourse,  studiously 
avoiding  society,  though  there  seemed  in  his  nature  no- 
thing of  moroseness  or  misanthropy.  On  the  contrary, 
he  showed  kindness  even  to  the  humblest  animal.  Birds 

9 


178  NOTES. 

instinctively  learned  it,  and  freely  entered  his  dwelling, 
to  receive  from  his  hands  crumbs  or  seeds. 

"  But  the  absorbing  delight  of  his  existence,  was  com- 
munion with  the  mighty  Niagara.  Here,  at  every  hour 
of  the  day  or  night,  he  might  be  seen  a  fervent  worshipper. 
At  gray  dawn  he  went  to  visit  it  in  its  fleecy  veil ;  at 
high  noon,  he  banqueted  on  the  full  splendor  of  its  glory ; 
beneath  the  soft  tinting  of  the  lunar  bow,  he  lingered, 
looking  for  the  angel's  wing  whose  pencil  had  painted  it ; 
at  solemn  midnight,  he  knelt,  soul-subdued,  as  on  the  foot- 
stool of  Jehovah.  Neither  storms,  nor  the  piercing  cold 
of  winter,  prevented  his  visits  to  this  great  temple  of  his 
adoration. 

"  When  the  frozen  mists,  gathering  upon  the  lofty 
trees,  seemed  to  have  transmuted  them  to  columns  of 
alabaster;  when  every  branch,  and  shrub,  and  spray, 
glittering  with  transparent  ice,  waved  in  the  sunbeam  its 
coronet  of  diamonds,  he  gazed,  unconscious  of  the  keen 
atmosphere,  charmed  and  chained  by  the  rainbow-cinc- 
tured Cataract.  His  feet  had  worn  a  beaten  path  from  his 
cottage  thither.  There  was,  at  that  time,  an  extension  of 
the  Terrapin  Bridge  by  a  single  shaft  of  timber,  carried 
out  ten  feet  over  the  fathomless  abyss,  where  it  hung 
tremulously,  guarded  only  by  a  rude  parapet. 

"  To  this  point  he  often  passed  and  repassed,  amid  the 
darkness  of  night.  He  even  took  pleasure  in  grasping  it 
with  his  hands,  and  thus  suspending  himself  over  the 
awful  gulf;  so  much  had  his  morbid  enthusiasm  learned 
to  feel,  and  even  to  revel,  amid  the  terribly  sublime. 


NOTES.  179 

"  Among  his  favorite,  daily  gratifications,  was  that  of 
bathing.  The  few  who  interested  themselves  in  his  wel- 
fare, supposed  that  he  pursued  it  to  excess,  and  protracted 
it  after  the  severity  of  the  Weather  rendered  it  hazardous 
to  health. 

"  He  scooped  out,  and  arranged  for  himself,  a  secluded 
and  romantic  bath,  between  Moss  and  Iris  islands.  After- 
wards, he  formed  the  habit  of  bathing  below  the  principal 
Fall.  One  bright,  but  rather  chill  day,  in  the  month  of 
June,  1831,  a  man  employed  about  the  Ferry,  saw  him  go 
into  the  water,  and  a  long  time  after,  observed  his  clothes 
to  be  still  lying  upon  the  bank* 

"  Inquiry  was  made.  The  anxiety  was  but  too  well 
founded.  The  poor  hermit  had  indeed  taken  his  last  bathi 
It  was  supposed  that  cramp  might  have  been  induced  by 
the  unwonted  chill  of  the  atmosphere  or  water.  Still  the 
body  was  not  found,  the  depth  and  force  of  the  current  just 
below  being  exceedingly  great. 

"  In  the  course  of  their  search,  they  passed  onward  to 
the  Whirlpool.  There,  amid  those  boiling  eddies,  was 
the  pallid  corse,  making  fearful  and  rapid  gyrations  upon 
the  face  of  the  black  waters.  At  some  point  of  suction,  it 
suddenly  plunged  and  disappeared.  Again  emerging,  it 
was  fearful  to  see  it  leap  half  its  length  above  the  flood, 
and  with  a  face  so  deadly  pale,  play  among  the  tossing 
billows,  then  float  motionless,  as  if  exhausted,  and  anon 
returning  to  the  encounter,  spring,  struggle,  and  contend 
like  a  maniac  battling  with  mortal  foes. 

"  It  was  strangely  painful  to  think  that  he  was  not  per* 


180  NOT  fig. 

mitted  to  find  a  grave,  even 'beneath  tile  Waters  he  had 
loved ;  that  all  the  gentleness  and  charity  of  his  nature, 
should  be  changed  by  death  to  the  fury  of  a  madman ; 
and  that  the  king  of  terrors,  who  brings  repose  to  the 
despot,  and  the  man  of  blood,  should  teach  warfare  to  him 
who  had  ever  worn  the  meekness  of  the  lamb.  For  days 
and  nights  this  terrible  purgatory  was  prolonged.  It  was 
on  the  twenty-first  of  June,  that,  after  many  efforts,  they 
were  enabled  to  bear  the  weary  dead  back  to  his  desolate 
cottage. 

There  they  found  his  faithful  dog  guarding  the  door. 
Heavily  the  long  period  had  worn  away,  while  he 
Watched  for  his  only  friend  and  wondered  why  he  delayed 
his  coming.  He  scrutinized  the  approaching  group  sus- 
piciously, and  would  not  willingly  have  given  them  admit- 
tance, save  that  a  low,  stifled  wail  at  length  announced  his 
intuitive  knowledge  of  the  master,  whom  the  work  of  death 
had  effectually  disguised  from  the  eyes  of  men. 

They  laid  him  on  his  bed,  the  thick,  dripping  masses  of 
his  beautiful  hair  clinging  to,  and  veiling  the  features  so 
late  expressive  and  comely.  On  the  pillow  was  his  pet 
kitten ;  to  her,  also,  the  watch  for  the  master  had  been 
long  and  wearisome. 

In  his  chair  lay  the  guitar,  whose  melody  was  proba- 
bly the  last  that  his  ear  had  heard  on  earth.  There  were 
also  his  flute  and  violin,  his  portfolio  and  books,  scattered 
and  open,  as  if  recently  used.  On  the  spread  table  was 
the  untasted  meal  for  noon,  which  he  had  prepared  against 
his  return  from  that  bath  which  had  proved  so  fatal.  It 


%  NOTES.  181 

was  a  touching  sight ;  the  dead  hermit  mourned  by  his 
humble  retainers,  the  poor  animals  who  loved  him,  and 
ready  to  be  laid  by  stranger-hands  in  a  foreign  grave. 

So  fell  this  singular  and  accomplished  being,  at  the 
early  age  of  twenty-eight.  Learned  in  the  languages,  in 
the  arts  and  sciences,  improved  by  extensive  travel,  gifted 
with  personal  beauty,  and  a  feeling  heart,  the  motives  for 
this  estrangement  from  his  kind  are  still  enveloped  in 
mystery.  It  was,  however,  known  that  he  was  a  native 
of  England,  where  his  father  was  a  clergyman  ;  that  he 
received  from  thence  ample  remittances  for  his  comfort  j 
and  that  his  name  was  Francis  Abbot.  These  facts  had 
been  previously  ascertained,  but  no  written  papers  were 
found  in  his  cell,  to  throw  additional  light  upon  the  obscu- 
rity in  which  he  had  so  effectually  wrapped  the  history  of 
his  pilgrimage. 

That  he  was  neither  an  ascetic  nor  a  misanthrope,  has 
been  sufficiently  proved.  Why  he  should  choose  to  with- 
draw from  society,  which  he  was  so  well  fitted  to  benefit 
and  adorn,  must  ever  remain  unexplained.  That  no  crime 
had  driven  him  thence,  his  blameless  and  pious  life  bore 
witness  to  all  who  knew  him. 

It  might  seem  that  no  plan  of  seclusion  had  been 
deliberately  formed,  until  enthusiastic  admiration  of  the 
unparalleled  scenery  among  which  he  was  cast,  induced 
and  for  two  years  had  given  it  permanence.  And  if  any 
one  could'  be  justified  for  withdrawing  from  life's  active 
duties,  to  dwell  awhile  with  solitude  and  contemplation, 


182  NOTES. 

would  it  not  be  in  a  spot  like  this,  where  Nature  ever 
speaks  audibly  of  her  majestic  and  glorious  Author  ? 

"  We  visited,  in  the  summer  of  1844,  the  deserted 
abode  of  the  hermit.  It  was  partially  ruinous,  but  we 
traced  out  its  different  compartments,  and  the  hearth-stone 
where  his  winter  evenings  passed  amid  books  and  music, 
his  faithful  dog  at  his  feet,  and  on  his  knee  his  playful, 
happy  kitten. 

"  At  our  entrance,  a  pair  of  nesting  birds  flew  forth 
affrighted.  Methought  they  were  fitting  representatives 
of  that  gentle  spirit,  which  would  not  have  disturbed  their 
tenantry,  or  harmed  the  trusting  sparrow.  If  that  spirit 
had  endured  aught  from  man,  which  it  might  neither  re- 
cover nor  reveal ;  if  the  fine  balance  of  the  intellect  had 
borne  pressure  until  it  was  injured  or  destroyed ;  we 
would  not  stand  upon  the  sufferer's  grave  to  condemn,  but 
to  pity. 

"We  would  think  with  tenderness  of  thee,  erring 
and  lonely  brother.  For  at  the  last  day,  when  the  secrets 
of  all  are  unveiled,  it  will  be  found  that  there  are  sadder 
mistakes  to  deplore  than  thine ; — time  wasted  idly,  but  not 
innocently — and  talents  perverted,  without  the  palliation 
of  a  virtuous  life,  the  love  of  Nature,  or  the  fear  of  God." 

It  is  needless  to  add  to  this  graphic  description  of  the 
Hermit,  given  by  Mrs.  Sigourney  in  her  "  Scenes  in  my 
Native  Land,"  that  the  story  presented  in  the  Poem  is 
a  mere  fiction,  designed  to  illustrate  certain  themes  it 
contains. 


NOTES.  183 


NOTE  25. — PAGE  71. 

The  reader  of  the  Bible  will  recognize  the  language  of 
Job,  found  in  chapter  second  of  that  book,  as  here  para- 
phrased to  the  extent  of  about  thirty  lines.  The  language 
of  Scripture  has  also  been  borrowed  in  many  subsequent 
portions,  to  much  of  which  special  reference  need  not  be 
made  in  these  Notes. 
/ 

NOTE  26.— PAGE  91. 

"  There  is  one  fact  connected  with  dreams  which  is 
highly  remarkable — time,  in  fact,  seems  to  be  in  a  great 
measure  annihilated.  An  extensive  period  is  reduced,  as 
it  were,  to  a  single  point,  or  rather  a  single  point  is  made 
to  embrace  an  extensive  period.  In  one  instant,  we  pass 
through  many  adventures,  see  many  strange  sights,  and 
hear  many  strange  sounds.  If  we  are  awaked  by  a  loud 
knock,  we  have  perhaps  the  idea  of  a  tumult  passing  before 
us,  and  know  all  the  characters  engaged  in  it — their  as- 
pects, and  even  their  very  names.  If  the  door  open  vio- 
lently, the  floodgates  of  a  canal  may  appear  to  be  expand- 
ing, and  we  may  see  the  individuals  employed  in  the 
process,  and  hear  their  conversation,  which  may  seem  an 
hour  in  length.  If  a  light  be  brought  into  the  room,  the 
notion  of  the  house  being  in  flames  perhaps  invades  us,  and 
we  are  witnesses  to  the  whole  conflagration,  from  its  com- 
mencement till  it  be  finally  extinguished.  The  thoughts 
which  arise  in  such  situations  are  endless,  and  assume  an 


184  NOTES. 

infinite  variety  of  aspects.  The  whole,  indeed,  constitutes 
one  of  the  strangest  phenomena  of  the  human  mind,  and 
calls  to  recollection  the  story  of  the  Eastern  monarch,  who, 
on  dipping  his  head  into  the  magician's  water-pail,  fancied 
he  had  travelled  for  years  in  various  nations,  although  he 
was  only  immersed  for  a  single  instant.  This  curious 
psychological  fact,  although  occurring  under  somewhat 
different  circumstances,  has  not  escaped  the  notice  of  Mr. 
De  Quincey,  better  known  as  the  '  English  Opium-eater/ 
1  The  sense  of  space,'  says  he,  '  and,  in  the  end,  the  sense 
of  time,  were  both  powerfully  affected.  Buildings,  land- 
scapes, &c.  were  both  exhibited  in  proportions  so  vast 
ihat  the  bodily  eye  is  not  fitted  to  receive.  Space  swelled, 
and  was  amplified  to  an  extent  of  unutterable  infinity. 
This,  however,  did  not  disturb  me  so  much  as  the  expan- 
sion of  time.  I  sometimes  seemed  to  have  lived  for  seventy 
or  a  hundred  years  in  one  night ;  nay,  sometimes  had 
feelings  representative  of  a  millennium  passed  in  that  time, 
or,  however,  of  a  duration  beyond  the  limits  of  any  human 
experience.'  It  is  more  easy  to  state  the  fact  of  this  appa- 
rent expansion  of  time  in  dreams,  than  to  give  any  theory 
which  will  satisfactorily  account  for  it.  I  believe  that, 
whenever  it  occurs,  the  dream  has  abounded  in  events  and 
circumstances  which,  had  they  occurred  in  reality,  would 
have  required  a  long  period  for  their  accomplishment. 
For  instance,  I  lately  dreamed  that  I  made  a  voyage  to 
India — remained  some  days  in  Calcutta — then  took  ship  for 
Egypt,  where  I  visited  the  Cataracts  of  the  Nile  and  the 
Pyramids ;  and,  to  crown  the  whole,  had  the  honor  of  an 


NOTES.  185 

interview  with  Mehemet  Ali,  Cleopatra,  and  the  Sultan 
Saladin.  All  this  was  the  work  of  a  single  night,  probably 
of  a  single  hour,  or  even  a  few  minutes ;  and  yet  it  ap- 
peared to  occupy  many  months." — Macnistis  Philosophy 
of  Sleep. 

NOTE  27.— PAGE  92. 

The  beautiful  custom,  prevailing  in  England,  of  deco- 
rating the  heads  of  those  who  have  died  in  infancy  and 
youth  with  garlands  of  fresh  flowers,  as  a  preparation  for 
burial,  is  thus  touchingly  alluded  to  by  Mrs.  Hemans : 

Bring  flowers,  pale  flowers,  o'er  the  bier  to  shed 

A  crown  for  the  brow  of  the  early  dead ! 

For  this  through  its  leaves  hath  the  white-rose  burst, 

For  this  in  the  woods  was  the  violet  nursed. 

Though  they  smile  in  vain  for  what  once  was  ours, 

They  are  love's  last  gifts — bring  ye  flowers,  pale  flowers. 

NOTE  28.— PAGE  105. 

The  preceding  twenty  lines  in  this  Hymn  of  Praise 
are,  as  nearly  as  possible,  a  literal  rendering,  in  measured 
verse,  of  the  one  hundred  and  forty-eighth  Psalm. 

NOTE  29.— PAGE  110. 

Table  Rock  is  a  prominent  portion  of  the  precipice  over 
which  the  waters  of  Niagara  once  undoubtedly  flowed.  It 
is  a  projection  of  forty  or  fifty  feet  beyond  the  general  line 


186  NOTES. 

of  the  bank,  forming  a  cavity  which,  being  extended  un- 
derneath the  Cataract  flowing  within  a  few  feet  on  the  same 
level,  forms  a  lofty  and  wide  area,  to  which  an  entrance 
has  been  effected  by  the  descent  of  a  stairway.  This 
Rock  is  one  hundred  and  sixty  feet  high,  its  width  corre- 
sponding very  nearly  with  the  distance  of  its  projection. 
It  was  formerly  of  greater  magnitude  than  it  now  is ;  a 
large  portion  of  it,  said  to  be  one  hundred  and  sixty  feet  in 
length  and  from  thirty  to  forty  feet  broad,  having  fallen  in 
1818.  Smaller  fragments  fell  in  1828  and  '29;  and  the 
whole  mass  is  expected  ere  long  to  give  way,  as  a  deep 
fissure,  extending  back  into  the  rock,  is  seen.  The  view  of 
the  Falls  from  this  point  is  unsurpassed  by  that  from  any 
other,  as  it  presents  the  whole  scene  of  Niagara  to  the 
view  at  one  instant  of  time,  completely  filling  the  field  of 
vision,  and  giving  the  full  impress  of  its  grandeur  and 
beauty  to  the  mind. 

The  impressiveness  of  the  scene  behind  the  immense 
sheet  of  the  principal  Cataract,  will  fully  repay  for  the 
peril  and  discomfort  attending  upon  a  visit  to  it.  The 
pendent  roof  of  rock  above,  the  arching  waters,  and  the 
abyss  of  foam  below,  are  objects  that  awaken  emotions  the 
sublimity  of  which  is  sometimes  oppressive,  and  yet  always 
pleasingly  awful. 

NOTE  30.— PAGE  115. 

ORION,  one  of  the  brightest  constellations  of  the 
southern  hemisphere,  near  the  foot  of  Taurus  or  the  Bull. 
Chesil,  the  original  Hebrew  term,  signifies,  according  to 


NOTES.  187 

the  ancient  Hebrews,  that  star  of  the  second  magnitude 
which  astronomers  called  the  Scorpion's  heart.  It  appears 
at  the  beginning  of  the  autumnal  equinox,  and  forebodes 
frost  or  cold.  Virgil  calls  it  Nimbosus  Orion.  De 
Goquet  supposes  that  Chesil,  signifying  "  cold,"  must  have 
meant  the  constellation  Scorpio,  which  introduced  winter 
in  the  days  of  Job ;  a  supposition  most  probable,  as  in  the 
days  of  that  patriarch  the  constellation  Orion  rose  helia- 
cally  in  the  middle  of  June,  whereas  Scorpio  did  not  rise 
till  the  end  of  October. 

ARCTURTJS  is  a  fixed  star  of  the  first  magnitude,  near 
the  tail  of  Ursa  Major  or  the  Great  Bear,  between  the 
thighs  of  Bootes,  the  constellation  Arcto-phylax.  It  is  in 
the  northern  hemisphere  towards  the  pole,  and  rises  about 
the  twelfth  of  September,  and  sets  about  the  twenty- fourth 
of  May,  and  has  been  thought  seldom  to  appear  without 
bringing  a  storm. 

The  Pleiades  or  Seven  Stars  form  a  cluster  in  the 
neck  or  shoulder  of  the  constellation  Taurus  or  the  Bull, 
anciently  in  the  tail.  This  group  is  situated  about  14° 
westward  of  the  star  Aldebaran.  The  Pleiades  marked 
out  the  east  quarter  and  the  spring  season.  Job  gives 
them  the  Hebrew  name  Chimah,  the  sweet  influences 
of  Chimah,  because  of  the  agreeableness  of  the  spring 
season. 

That  the  course  of  the  stars  influenced  the  seasons, 
in  the  opinion  of  the  ancients,  is  well  known ;  whence 
Pliny  says  (Lib.  II.  Cap.  39)  "Arcturus  seldom  rises 
without  bringing  hail  and  tempests;"  and  (Lib.  XVIII. 


188  NOTES. 

Cap.  28)  "  The  evils  which  the  heavens  send  us  are  of 
two  kinds :  that  is  to  say,  tempests  which  produce  hail, 
storms,  and  other  like  things,  which  is  called  Vis  Major, 
and  which  are  caused,  as  I  have  often  said,  by  dreadful 
stars,  such  as  Arcturus,  Orion  and  the  Kids."  The 
ancients,  however,  were  mistaken  in  this  notion,  for  the 
stars  only  marked  that  time  of  the  year  when  such  things 
might  naturally  be  expected. 

It  is  generally  reckoned  that  only  six  stars  can  be 
distinctly  counted  in  this  group  (the  Pleiades)  by  common 
eyes,  but  that  originally  they  consisted  of  seven,  which 
every  one  could  easily  perceive,  and  it  has  therefore  been 
conjectured  that  one  of  them  has  long  since  disappeared. 
To  this  circumstance  Ovid,  who  lived  in  the  time  of  our 
Saviour,  alludes  in  these  lines : — 

"  Now  rise  the  Pleiades,  those  nymphs  so  fair, 
Once  seven  numbered,  now  but  six  there  are." 

In  fabulous  history  it  is  said  that  these  stars  were  the 
seven  daughters  of  Atlas  and  the  nymph  Pleione,  named 
Alcione,  Merope,  Maia,  Electra,  Tayeta,  Sterope,  and 
Celino,  who  were  turned  into  stars,  with  their  sisters  the 
Hyades,  on  account  of  their  mutual  affection  and  amiable 
virtues ;  and  that  the  star  Merope,  one  of  the  Atlantides, 
appears  more  dim  and  obscure  than  the  rest,  or  is  alto- 
gether extinguished,  because,  as  the  poets  fancy,  she 
married  a  mortal,  while  her  sisters  married  some  of  the 
gods  or  their  descendants.  Dr.  Long,  however,  declares 
that  he  himself  had  more  than  once  seen  seven  stars  in 


NOTES,  189 

this  group ;  and  a  learned  astronomical  friend  assured 
him  that  he  had  seen  eight  stars  among  the  Pleiades, 
where  common  eyes  can  discover  but  six ;  and  Kepler 
says  of  his  tutor.  Msestlinus,  that  "  he  could  reckon  four- 
teen stars  in  the  Pleiades  without  any  glasses."  This 
difference  in  the  number  seen  by  different  persons  in  this 
group,  is  obviously  owing  to  the  different  degrees  of  acute- 
ness  of  vision  possessed  by  the  respective  individuals. 
However  small  the  number  perceived  by  the  naked  eye, 
the  telescope  shows  them  to  be  a  pretty  numerous  assem- 
blage. Dr.  Hook,  formerly  professor  of  geometry  in 
Gresham  College,  informs  us  that  directing  his  twelve-feet 
telescope  (which  could  magnify  only  about  seventy  times) 
to  the  Pleiades,  he  did,  in  that  small  compass,  count  seven- 
ty-eight stars ;  and  making  use  of  longer  and  more  perfect 
telescopes,  he  discovered  a  great  many  more  of  different 
magnitudes. — Calmet ;  Brown's  Antiquities  of  the  Jews  ; 
Dick's  Sidereal  Heavens. 

NOTE  31.— PAGE  117. 

The  aborigines  of  our  country  viewed  the  Cataract  of 
Niagara  with  religkms  veneration,  as  if  it  were  a  true 
Divinity.  A  party  of  Indians  being  brought  thither  on 
their  return  to  the  West,  from  the  seat  of  government, 
displayed  their  adoration  to  the  Great  Spirit  of  the  Fall 
by  casting  their  pipes,  wampum,  and  different  trinkets, 
into  the  flood. 


190  NOTES, 


NOTE  32. — PAGE  122, 

The  reader  is  referred  to  the  eighteenth  Psalm,  and  to 
different  passages  of  the  Book  of  Revelation,  for  the 
original  materials  out  of  which  a  great  portion  of  this 
"  Requiem  of  the  Flood"  is  composed. 


The  RECESSION  of  Niagara  Falls  has  been  made  a 
subject  of  much  curious  speculation  among  scientific 
men  of  late.  As  it  may  not  be  uninteresting  to  some 
readers  to  peruse  their  observations  upon  this  point,  they 
are  here  presented  as  taken  from  Hall's  Geological  Sur- 
vey, and  an  article  lately  found  in  a  British  publication. 

"  The  most  superficial  observers  unavoidably  contem- 
plate the  deep  channel  of  seven  miles  as  the  work  of  the 
river  itself;  and  the  idea  receives  confirmation  of  the 
most  decided  kind  from  the  fact,  that  the  waterfall  is  con- 
tinually, though  slowly,  wearing  away  the  rock.  The 
common  belief  of  the  country  people  therefore  is,  that  the 
fall  was  originally  at  Queenstown,  and  will  in  time  get 
back  to  Lake  Erie,  which  will  consequently  be  emptied, 
and  become  dry  land." 

"  This  is  a  subject  on  which  many  speculations  have 
been  hazarded,  but  no  one  appears  to  have  undertaken  the 
calculation  with  a  full  knowledge  of  the  geology  of  the 
district,  or  to  have  taken  into  account  the  many  disturbing 
influences.  At  the  present  time  the  cliff  over  which  the 
water  is  precipitated,  is  nearly  equally  divided  between 


NOTES.  191 

thick-bedded  limestone  and  soft  disintegrating  shale.  It 
is  by  the  action  of  the  spray  from  the  falling  water  upon 
the  shale,  undermining  and  leaving  the  limestone  unsup- 
ported, which  falls  down  by  its  own  weight,  that  the  falls 
recede  from  their  present  position.  Now  if  we  believe 
the  statements  of  those  who  have  resided  at  the  Falls,  the 
recession  has  been  about  fifty  yards  within  the  last  forty 
years ;  but  from  all  the  data  I  have  been  able  to  obtain, 
this  appears  to  be  much  too  great  an  estimate ;  indeed  it 
is  extremely  questionable  if  the  Fall  has  receded  as  many 
feet  within  that  time.  The  central  portion  of  the  Horse- 
shoe Fall  recedes  more  rapidly  than  any  other  part,  for 
here  the  greatest  force  of  the  river  is  exerted.  We  know 
likewise,  from  the  testimony  of  all  residents  at  this  place, 
that  the  American  Fall  is  becoming  more  curved  in  its  out- 
line, whereas  formerly  it  was  nearly  in  a  straight  line. 
The  successive  descent  of  large  masses  of  limestone,  and 
the  still  continued  overhanging  of  the  table  rock,  prove 
very  conclusively  the  unremitting  action  of  water  and  air 
upon  the  shale  below." 


ERRATA. 


A  few  errors  escaped  the  vigilance  of  the  proof-reader,  which  the  author,  residing 
at  a  distance  from  the  press,  was  unable  to  correct.  Those  which  are  not  so  palpable 
as  to  be  readily  understood  by  the  reader,  are  the  following  : 

Page  30,  second  line  from  bottom,  the  hyphen  should  be  omitted  between  ear  and 
•bedient. 

Page  37,  fourth  line  from  top,  shall  ought  to  be  substituted  for  should. 
Page  40,  fourth  line  from  top,  read  once  for  now. 
Page  44,  fifteenth  line  from  bottom,  though  for  through. 

Page  48,  eighth  and  ninth  lines  from  top,  place  a  comma  after  success,  and  a  semi- 
colon after  soul. 

Page  55,  first  line  from  top,  for 

The  soil  round  which,  &c.,  read 
Ground  whose  walls  the  deep-duff,  &c. 
Also,  eleventh  line  from  bottom,  for  summits  read  summit. 
Page  59,  eleventh  line  from  bottom,  for  on  read  or. 
Page  84,  fourth  line  from  top,  for  the  second  thou  read  their. 
Page  101,  fifteenth  line  from  bottom,  for  each  read  earth. 
Page  115,  eighth  line  from  top,  for  light  read  lights. 
Also,  twelfth  line  from  top,  for  threads  of  light,  read  threads  of  gold. 
Page  117,  thirteenth  line  from  top,  for  make  read  may. 
fe      Page  130,  third  line  from  top,  for  o/read  oft. 

Page  135,  second  line  from  top,  for  Casich  read  Cusich. 
Also,  fifth  line  from  bottom,  read  toward  the  north. 
Also,  seventh  line  from  bottom,  read  toward  the  south. 


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